The Association

Grading Trades and Acquisitions... So Far

By Craig Kwasniewski

 
Why bother wasting time talking about the impacts of all the summer trades and free agent signings? After all LeBron, Wade and especially Bosh are all mortal locks for the next 6 NBA championships, a World Cup title in 2014, finding the cure for AIDS and solving the "Is the Hills real or not?" crises. There's no competition these three guys will win EVERYTHING. Pack it up fellas, you're either with the Heat or against mankind.

Okay let's keep the defense honest and pretend that there's actually a season to be played and actual competition out there. One week into the free agent signing period, here are my thoughts so far:

Drew Gooden and John Salmons signing 5-year contracts with Milwaukee: One guy's been on nine teams in nine years, the other is a ballhog. N-I-N-E! Maybe Drew's a great guy and maybe he finally gets it, but something tells me that if he's anything decent one of the other eight (E-I-G-H-T) teams would have kept him. John Salmons is your prototypical ball stopper. Yes he had a good run in the 2009 playoff with Chicago, but he wasn't good enough to stick around. People suddenly made Milwaukee an instant contender. Why? And why five years for these guys? F-I-V-E! Who's else wants them for even two? Grade: D

Steve Blake signs with the Lakers: Three words: I LOVE IT! The money's good at $16 mil over four years, he's a good defender, a good spot-up shooter (perfect for the Triangle) and a willing learner (he said he's coming off the bench behind Fisher). The Lakers were chasing several mid-level point guards and landed their number one option. His age is the only downfall but Jerry Buss is going all in on the Kobe Bryant era so why not. Grade: A

Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes & Brian Cook sign with the Clippers: First off, I like Gomes.  He has a decent baseline jumper and plays hard every night.  Foye?  Ehhhh... DC took a chance on him after being a bust in Miny and he really hasn't panned out.  His claim to fame is NOT being Brandon Roy.  But as a backup not much will be expected and maybe he'll fit.  BUT... Brian Cook for two years?  T-W-O???  What the hell?  This guy shouldn't be in the league and really he wouldn't be if the Clippers didn't sign him.  But why the two years? Who else is offering more than a 10-day contract?  Grade: F (sorry but the stink of Brian Cook knocks a B- down to a solid F... HE SUCKS!)

Golden State trades for David Lee:  Turiaf, Randolph and Azubuike for Lee? The blogosphere LOVES Randolph! I keep hearing (for what feels like decades) that he's a sick talent waiting to break out. To me, the Dubs (BTW - are they still that? can you really have a cool nickname if your team is annually back in lottery-land?) gave up very little to get what is a slightly upgraded version of Andris Biedrins, an active offense-first C/F. He'll fit Nellie's No Defense, No Problem system perfectly and put up some sick offensive numbers. It's just that Golden State won't stop anyone on D.... EVER. Grade: B

Jermaine O'Neal signs with the Celtics:  Make no mistake, this is a great deal for the Celtics! (And yes, I was just looking to utter my second most favorite ex-athlete-on-TV cliches.)  People are knocking O'Neal's playoff numbers against the C's this year, but they're not acquiring him to put up #2 or #3 option numbers.  His job is to fill in for Perkins until he returns and then play 10 to 15 minutes as the first C/F off the bench.  Plus, the hope is that one last shot at a title and KG's leadership will be enough to motivate the guy.  Mix this deal with Ray Allen returning and IN MY OPINION the Celtics are still the top team in the east.  I know that's just crazy to think the defending Eastern Conference Champions actually have a shot despite having veteran leadership, a great defense, team chemistry and quality size up front.  I feel guilty for actually thinking they're better than the Heat, should I go into hiding like Salmon Rushdie?  Grade: A-

Phoenix trades for Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick: Lose Amar'e to free agency and get back LENGTH.  Not a bad deal for a team that lost their marquee players for absolutely nothing. Wait, who knocked out the Suns in the playoffs?  The taller and longer Lakers.  So the Suns counter with length and handles.  Hedu has something to prove after the Toronto disaster and with Nash and co. he'll get a lot of healthy looks.  Childress was a little overrated this summer, the Suns basically got Joe Smith 2.0.  Still that's not a bad thing with this system.  The best part about Hakim Warrick will be listening to Lakers PA guy Lawrence Tanter botch his name.  Warrick is his albatross... It's unfair to compare these guys directly to Stat's impact in 2009-10, given the situation I think the Suns did a hell of a job here. Grade: B+

Dallas extends Brendan Haywood and trades for Tyson Chandler:  I see what Dallas is doing here and it may work, but in reality they're probably going to end up like the 2000 Portland Trailblazers.  They went for height to counter the Lakers but in the end they may have too many players to choose from.  Kidd, Terry, Haywood, Chandler, Marion, Butler and Nowitzki... that's a talented top 7 but can Carlisle find the right rotation?  He didn't last spring and they fell to the Spurs in the first round.  Still, I like the effort by the Mavs and can't fault them for what I think might happen.  Grade: B

Al Jefferson to the Jazz:  Here's another blogoshpere favorite.  The Jazz did what they needed to do, find a replacement for Boozer and continue on with the 50+ wins and second round elimination gameplan (which actually isn't bad for a small market team).  Jefferson is a slight upgrade but not as dramatic an improvement as others claim.  His overall winning percentage is LOW, he's injury prone and his defense is suspect.  The low winning percentage is one that I can't let go.  If he's as good as people claim, shouldn't he have some kind of impact on the overall team record?  Is he possibly one of those good-guy-on-a-bad-team type of players?  Anyway, Utah did EXACTLY what they needed to do and for that... Grade: A-

Bulls sign Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver: As of now, rumors are the Magic will match the offer sheet to JJ Redick, so we're only talking about the ex-Jazz guys. The Bulls were shooting for LeBron or Wade and ended up with Boozer.  Funny how the joke was that the Knicks would probably end up with Rudy Gay and Boozer after missing out on LeBron. Now that the Bulls got Boozer, people forgot the joke and instantly made them a top 3 contender in the east. You gotta love July hype!  I do think Boozer is a good signing and as long as he's not facing the Lakers he'll be fine.  His health has been a concern the past few years, but maybe playing in the #3 market with a strong up-and-coming team will keep him on the floor.  Redick would have been a better signing than Korver, who's clearly lost a step last year, but it never hurts to get a few quality outside shooters.  Plus the REAL key acquisition for the Bulls was Tom Thibodeau.  Grade: B-

Jordan Farmar to the Nets:  Farmar asked for a starting role with an offence that caters to his talents. Instead he gets to back up Devin Harris for the Clippers East who just hired NBA retread Billy King as their GM.  Have fun big guy! Two years ago the Lakers basically structured their roster for Farmar to take over and start after the 2010 season.  Fisher's contract was expiring, Farmar needed an extension... the keys to a fine tuned Lamborghini were his. Instead he regressed and both parties went their own ways. Sad... Grade: D

Amar'e Stoudemire to the Knicks:  Quite simply the NBA is a better league with the Knicks as playoff contenders.  It's basketball mecca... nuff said.  Mix in all the other pieces from the David Lee trade and the Raymond Felton signing and you might have enough for a playoff run.  If anything Amar'e has created a buzz not felt since the Ewing era (they sold out season tickets for the 2010-11 season).  God I hope the Isiah Thomas rumors are just BS, because there's actually hope for the Knicks, not band aid work with a bunch of overrated veterans but actual hope with potential down the rode hope.  Grade A-

Did I miss anything?

LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Miller and Ilgauskus to the Heat:  Message to the blogosphere:  can't you just let things organically happen?  Seriously... as soon as this deal went down all you talked about were multiple titles and legacy.  Sprinkle in the anti-hate "unique" point of view (which wasn't unique at all)... you know, the whole, hey LeBron is NOT a bad guy here and I'm tired of the hate (BTW - all two hours of hate, because HOW DARE WE actually criticize THE KING!!!!) angle and I'm already tired of reading about this deal.  Can't we just enjoy the experience before calling them the greatest ever?  As Phil Jackson has always said, it's all about the journey not the destination.  Before handing over the next 25 NBA titles, let's enjoy watching this team grow together,  work together through tough situations and experience two superstars combining for one cause.

That said, Bosh is an All-Star not a superstar, Miller is on the downside of his career and Ilgauskus averaged less that 2 points and 2 rebounds in the 2010 playoffs.  (That was the most disturbing thing of them all, Z was brought back to the Cavs after the Jamison trade as a final piece to an eventual NBA title.  He was lost and didn't contribute a damn thing.  So how is it now literally months later, he's back to becoming an All-Star?) There's still work to do roster-wise and even though everyone not named LeBron or Wade will get clean looks, they still have to ALL play defense. And they still have to get by the Celtics and Lakers.  People completely forgot the concept of veteran experience, defensive continuity, team chemistry and in the case of both the Lakers and Celtics, quality size.  You gotta stop KG, Perkins, Bynum, Gasol and Odom... and that won't happen in 2010.  Grade A+ but they're not winning a title next year!

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Debunking the Stat Guys = More Wins Theory

By Craig Kwasniewski

NBA stat guys are dancing in the streets, running up to random store fronts screaming, "You like apples???", and tweeting to their hearts content. Today is your day fellas. Finally some recognition. Finally the hard work and highly uncomfortable worship of Darly Morey has paid off! Mainstream media has championed your cause.

According to today's Wall Street Journal:

Wall Street Journal found that half the league's teams this season have at least one of these statisticians who helps make in-game, draft-day and trade-deadline decisions. Many of these teams are among the NBA's best. The list accounts for all six division leaders, including the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks, who have a data analyst traveling with the team. These 15 teams that have invested heavily in statistics have combined to win 59.3% of their games this season.

There you go, money spent on statisticians equals a 59.3% winning percentage.  The numbers don't lie... but they kinda of do.

Like most stats, the numbers convey a specific certain type of data and don't really show the big picture.  Fellas, it's just not that simple as more stat guys = more wins. 

The big picture is more money invested in you team = more wins.  It's not just better statistical analysis, it's better practice facilities, better training staffs, better transportation, better personnel management, etc.  It's the teams willing to spend the extra dollar to squeeze out any kind of advantage outside and beyond the limits of the salary cap.  It's no surprise that the Mavericks are on that list of teams with data analysts.  Mark Cuban is the perfect example of an owner smartly investing in his team to gain an advantage and it shows (they've been in the playoffs every year since 2000-01).

Conversely, one of the teams not on that list, the Phoenix Suns, are notoriously cheap.  Their owner has been looking for ways to slash salary the second he pushed Jerry Colangelo out the door.  Robert Sarver flies coach for crissake!  With their owner giving Donald T. Sterling a run at cheapness, the recent fall from title contender to playoff hopefuls comes as no real surprise.

For what it's worth, I do think stat guys are a helpful aid and very necessary in today's game.  They allow us to see the game in a completely different light and prove that the NBA is evolving into the technological age.  I just don't think they are the clear cut difference maker as everyone is making it (especially after seeing 'he "results" in today's WSJ).

 

Do Lakers Fans Have the Right to Complain About the Dallas-DC Trade?

By Craig Kwasniewski

As Dallas continues to pile up victory after victory, my frustration grows and grows.  How the hell did they gain two starters and a decent guard off the bench for virtually nothing?  How did the league allow such a one-sided deal?  Is the Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld secretly on Mark Cuban's payroll?  Does he get a slice of the Mavs' playoff money?  Will DC drop a 2009-10 Southwest Division Champs banner in the Verizon Center?  And if, God forbid (Stern calls the refs off, unlike 2006 and), the Mavs actually win the championship, will they hold a parade in DC?   I went off on several twitter tirades openly bitching about the deal and got this response:

Ahh touché Brett... touché. Leave it to the guy who started this site with me back in 2005 to call me out with my first official "C'mon, SON" (BTW - one of my favorite isms of 2010, which I will wear with a badge of honor).

Do Lakers fans really have the right to complain about the Mavs-DC deal from a few weeks ago?  I mean didn't they get back-to-back NBA Finals appearances and the 2009 championship courtesy of an equally one-sided deal?  Wasn't it Gregg Popovich who joked (but not really joked) that the league needs some kind of fantasy-sports like trade review after the Pau Gasol deal?  Seriously, can I really complain after shipping Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, some random euro dude, a 2008 1st round draft pick and a 2010 1st round draft pick for three-time all star Pau Gasol?  Gasol with the right mix of offensive skill, basketball IQ and humility to blend in perfectly with Kobe Bryant and the Triangle Offense.  Gasol who took the Lakers from top-10 contender tight to the top of the list for the next few years. THAT Pau Gasol.

To answer your question... Y-E-S!

First let's look at the trade: Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations to Dallas for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, reserves Quinton Ross and James Singleton. (BTW - I just saw the cash considerations thing, so not only did Dallas rape Ernie Grunfeld in the deal, HE ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE RAPING!)

Anyway, for years Howard was on Dallas's do not trade list.  Deal after deal was offered and the response was always thanks but no thanks.  Howard had Scottie Pippen-like potential with the skills but not the durability or the mental toughness to ever become Pippen.  Oh and he's not that bright when put in front of a microphone.  So DC got a one-time all-star, who's injury prone (he missed an average of 15 games per season before his year), who's party lifestyle rivals Iverson's (minus the amazing next day bounce-back-ability) and has a public perception of always saying the wrong things.  Plus they got Drew Gooden and two decent ex-Clippers for Butler (a two-time All-Star), Haywood (a big with the exact same build as Andrew Bynum but who never developed beyond being a potential Bynum) and Stevenson (decent off the bench).  CLEARLY Grunfeld was dumping roster to clear cap space... not surprising for today's NBA but still brutal if you're a DC fan.

But here's the difference between both deals:  Memphis got 2 first round draft picks and the rights to Marc Gasol, that random euro dude that everyone at the time assumed was just a throw-in to make the salaries match-up.  Okay yeah, the two draft picks are more like early second round picks, but they could be packaged for a higher pick or if done right you can always find that diamond in the rough in the late first round (hello DeJuan Blair).  Oh and that Marc Gasol guy, he's only going to be their starting center for the next 5 years.  Ask any Grizz fan and they'll tell you about Gasol's basketball IQ, passing ability, soft hands and humility on offense (a Gasol trait, meaning he's willing to be that 4th or 5th option on offense).  He's the perfect fit with this Grizzlies team and really it's no surprise that they're on the brink of a playoff appearance.

Marc Gasol, the glue that holds Memphis together.

DC dumped salary and got an injury-prone 18 ppg. swingman who's out for the season with... wait for it... a torn ACL.  But they didn't get any future considerations.  No draft picks, no rights to a developing euro player not even cash.  Cap relief and nothing else... hey thank YOU Ernie Grunfeld!

Tough Juice is a perfect mix of athleticism and aggression that fits nicely with Jason Kidd running the break.  Reminds me of Richard Jefferson back in New Jersey, you know before he retired this year in San Antonio.  And Haywood is quicker and more athletic than Dampier and hit rejuvenation machine big time, flying all over the floor on D and adding just enough offense to be a threat.  And you can never have enough size if you hope to get past the Lakers in the playoffs.

So yeah, this trade is more one-sided than the Gasol deal in 2008.  At least Memphis was looking at the future in their deal while DC was just looking at their wallet.

Thursday TNT Hoops Preview

By Craig Kwasniewski

You know tonight there's actually more than just announcing the All Star Reserves, right? TNT was nice enough to put together a virtual pick-me-up bouquet of a double-header to cheer up the Deron Williams, Chris Kaman and Andrew Bynum fans as their guys failed to make the All Star game (in D-Will's case... yet again).

BTW - While I have your attention, I have a very hard time admitting any New York Knicks to All-Star Weekend, to defend a slam dunk title or as a power forward reserve, after that 50 point embarrassment last Sunday. Yeah they sort of bounced back against the second worst team in the league, but no team should ever lose a home game by 50. Never not any! As punishment, all Knicks should lose their Dallas privileges for that weekend. Sorry to all those David Lee lifers.

Back to Thursday's Hoop Preview (all times Pacific):

Boston at Orlando (5:00 PM):  Nice to open with a rematch of the Eastern Conference Semis.  And really nice of Boston to be nearly in the same health with KG dragging his knee all over the floor as Celtics fans cross their fingers together so hard they bleed hoping and praying he'll be healthy enough for the playoff run.  Sheed is on week 13 of his 26 week play-myself-into-shape workout regimen.  The funny thing is does he really need to be in shape to trail on the break, jack up threes from the top of the arc or occasionally play in the post?  Obviously Sheed agrees while Celtics fans slowly accept that he's signed until 2011-12.... Have fun with that Boston!

Orlando is still looking for an identity while learning that life ain't so easy with championship expectations, learning to play Vince Carter ball (poor shot selection, random injuries, disappearing acts) and with a big target on your back. Last year Orlando stole a few games while the rest of the league was debating between Boston or Cleveland as the beast of the east.  I'm wondering if Magic fans saw Turkoglu break down the Lakers last Sunday and pull out a very veteran savvy W.  How many fans are secretly wanting a do over between Carter and Hedo. 

Boston blew out Orlando on Christmas Day.  *IF* the Magic decide to actually work the ball inside to Dwight Howard, they win easily.  The problem is that much of this season the Magic have gone away from their best player, which totally makes sense?!?  Tonight they attack down low and Orlando wins 96-88.

Dallas at Phoenix (7:30 PM):  Danger, danger, danger!  It's officially panic time in Phoenix!  In November they were talking 50+ wins and a long shot at another MVP award for Steve Nash.  Now... now, they break out with huge leads in the second quarter, blow them late and lose every single time.  Injuries are starting to mount, the coaching staff is making panic line-up adjustments and the feeling is that they'll be lucky to get an 8 seed.  And let's not forget the HUGE pink elephant that is the Amar'e Stoudemire trade rumors.  Early in the season I really liked how this Suns roster was put together.  They had the right finishers and more importantly the best perimeter shooting since the 06-07 team.  But they lack that run stopping low post threat.  Amar'e is more of a pick and roll finisher and nobody else has the low post game... so they become the typical live-by-the-three die-by-the-three team and there's a lot of dying these days.

Dallas seems very content in their role as 2nd or 3rd best team in the west.  They're pulling out every close game (10 one point wins in a row!) and have the right mix of talent to be considered a Western Conference Finalist.  Not bad for a team that looked to pull off the ultimate panic trade for Jason Kidd.  Instead they got a floor leader that took off all the pressure on Dirk, who's playing his best basketball since the MVP season.  Serious props to the Mavs front office for this team!

Quite simply, Phoenix is deep into panic mode and won't be able to protect any lead (if any) as Dallas wins easily 112-101.

Lakers/Mavs and is Pau Gasol Pregnant?

By Craig Kwasniewski 

 

According to Yahoo.com: 

Forward Pau Gasol has left the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Dallas Mavericks because of a strained left hamstring. 

A team spokesman said Sunday night that Gasol would undergo an ultrasound test on Monday.

Ultrasound?  Just hold on a sec... isn't that what you give to pregnant women to see what junior looks like?  What ever happened to the tried and true MRI?  Is the economy hitting the NBA so hard that the Lakers medical staff doubles as the California Fertility Clinic by day?  I'm cool with the new found extra sensitive and emotionally conscious medial staff...

"Mr. Gasol, I have great news!  Congratulations it's a...."

TORN HAMSTRING!

Let's hope not.  Anyway, the huge #1 vs. #2 Western Conference Battle Royal between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks never materialized.  The Lakers simply out-sized the Mavs on their way to a 131-96 home win.  I was there in my seats high up in Section 316 and it wasn't even that close. Instead of a full blown 316 Report breakdown (because the game really wasn't worthy of one), let me just give a quick summary.

Basketball is a game of match ups and Dallas just doesn't have the right mix of talent to hang with LA. Okay sure, great analysis there Craig.  Way to go out on a limb and profess that a mid-level team in the west can't hang with the defending champs... brilliant!  The Mavs aren't big enough like say Cleveland to give the Lakers any fits.  Sure Eric Dampier was out, but beyond Damps, what other legit size do the Mavs have?  I really love the potential of having Shawn Marion on the roster.  He always does a decent job defending Kobe with his length and athleticism giving KB24 trouble much like James Posey did when he still played in the NBA.  But who matches with Gasol and Odom?  

Okay taking size out of the picture, maybe Dallas can out-quick the Lakers and beat them in a Phoenix-like run and gun three point contest.  The problem there is that Dallas doesn't have the speed like back in 2006.  Dirk is older and not as quick off the dribble and Devin Harris is busy breaking the 1972-73 76ers record for futility in New Jersey.  Maybe Dallas can ride the wave of their home crowd and steal a few games here and there or get a bored-out-of-their-minds Lakers like the Houston series last season, but other than that Dallas is the 3rd or 4th best team in the west (behind a healthy Denver and San Antonio). A very good 4th best, just not capable of passing Denver or the Lakers in the playoffs. 

BTW - On Pau Gasol's strained hammy... This is a serious problem for the Lakers.  In the NFL, hamstring injuries stay with players the whole season and extended rest is the only way to heal them.  The media keeps hammering home that Gasol only missed 11 games with the other injured hamstring.  Actually he missed most of October and the first few weeks of November... basically 6 weeks with a strain.  The Lakers are entering the meaty portion of their schedule and have a banged up Artest, Luke Walton still out with his annual injury and now Gasol.  This puts more strain on the rest of the roster... especially Kobe, who's no longer the 20-something with boundless energy.  At this point the most important thing for the Lakers to repeat is that they are as healthy as possible by April.  I'm not saying they go 2006-07 Miami and fall to a 40-win season, I'm just saying that an occasional loss here and there is okay as long as they see the big picture... and with Phil Jackson running things I'm sure they will.

Get well Pau!

Monday Morning Point Guard

By Craig Kwasniewski 

March Madness eat your heart out! One weekend down and there were several upsets, a few stinkers and a couple expected results. As much as I love the whole one and done March Madness thing, you don't get the physical play, the adjustments and strategy that a 7-game series offers. Here are a few thoughts with one game down in each series: 

Boston vs. Chicago - Is there room on the Derrick Rose bandwagon? The Bulls were the one team I regret not seeing in person this year. Anyone with an eye for hoops can appreciate the full range this rookie brings to the Bulls but what I didn't notice until Saturday is Rose's quick and explosive LAST step. Most players have that quick first step to blow by defenders but Rose explodes right at the rim at his last step. Also, his extremely calm nature works well with the youthful Bulls. Game 1 against the defending champs and he has the heart rate of a librarian and it's contagious as the Bulls weren't phased at all. I still think Boston wins, but the Bulls should make Rose the GM, coach and owner and build around him for the next 12 years. 

Cleveland vs. Detroit - Are we done yet? Are we done yet? Are we done yet? SWEEP! 

San Antonio vs. Dallas - One quarter in, Duncan had springy legs and looked very 2007, I was on the brink of writing a "Mavs should have kept Maquis Daniels instead of Josh Howard" piece and Nowitzki was in foul trouble... basically it didn't look good for Dallas. I left home, went out thinking the Spurs would win easily and I caught the last few seconds at a bar as Dallas... PULLED AWAY FOR A W??? What the hell happened? Suddenly Dallas looks like a very legit Western Conference finalist and San Antonio looks old.    

Portland vs. Houston - This really looks like a match-up problem for Portland more than anything else. Maybe their inexperience cost them a W as they didn't have that fifth gear or maybe they're just happy to be there.  All I know is Yao played the best playoff game of his life and showed EVERYONE that the problem was always T-MAC. 

Los Angeles vs. Utah - No Okur, no chance for Utah... it's just that simple. But the real story is the referees killing the entire second half of the game. It's no surprise that Joey Crawford was the lead ref in the worst called game of the weekend. Does the NBA pay him by the fouls? Does he really think the fans pay to see him ref? Is he out to single-handedly ruin professional hoops?  There were SIXTEEN fouls in the 3rd quarter alone and a free-flowing game became a possession-by-possession freethrow festival. Terrible! 

Orlando vs. Philadelphia - I've said this all year, Orlando doesn't have the go to guy necessary to make a deep run in the playoffs. C-Webb pretty much blew a gasket ripping on the Magic not riding Dwight Howard all game. But does Superman really want to be "that guy" with the Magic or is he content with monster numbers, monster dunks and showmanship? NBA Champions all have the definitive alpha dog and an understood chain of command. The Celtics heart lies with KG but crunchtime went Pierce first and Sugar Ray second. The early 00's Lakers had Shaq for 3 1/2 quarters with Kobe as the closer... what about Orlando? 

Atlanta vs. Miami - The Hawks put together a Special Edition Double-DVD set of highlights on the Heat on Sunday. Instead of 2006 Kobe and the Lakers with their near upset of the #2 seeded Phoenix Suns, the Heat resembled the 2007 edition and the very one-sided 4-1 loss to Phoenix. But we'll see what kind of road playoff team Atlanta is in games 3 & 4. 

Denver vs. New Orleans - Denver put together a sick 21-0 run late in the 3rd early in the 4th to put away what was a close and very physical game. Chauncey Billups went retro looking like a 2005 version going 8 of 9 from three on his way to 36 points. NOLA basically gave up at the end of the 3rd quarter so this blowout doesn't really mean the Nuggets will sweep. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if NOLA steals game 2. This really feels like a very bitter and very physical seven game series.

Is Cuban's Insider Trading 'Great Business for NBA'

by Craig Kwasniewski

"From a business perspective, it's great for the NBA. It's reality television, people love train-wreck television and you hate to admit it, but that is the truth, that's the reality today. Notoriety sells in this day and age… I can't think of anyone who is going through a legal problem who doesn't get high attention. Is that cold-blooded? Yeah. But it is bottom-line reality."

With news that the SEC Charged Cuban today with insider trading the upcoming trial might be “great for the NBA” but that's not where the quote comes from.

Instead it was "The Benefactor" himself, Mark Cuban, speaking about Kobe’s rape trial during an interview with Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brien. (Cocaine and insider trading, man I wish I was a fly on the wall between takes!)

Will the trial be great for the NBA? Is it great to see one of the more successful owners on and off the court in professional sports go to jail? Did Mark Cuban become the Bruce McNall of the NBA? And will Kobe chase down Pat O'Brien at Promises and give his take on the trial?

I'm not sure... all I know is that professional sports and the NBA loses if Mark Cuban disappears from the scene. And given his relationship with David Stern, it's all but guaranteed.

If the third quarter of Game 3 on the 2006 NBA Finals can be construed as the peak of the Mark Cuban Era in the NBA then today is rock-bottom.

Monday Morning Point Guard

By Craig Kwasniewski

Time to dust off another edition of MMPG. It's been awhile since the last time I did one of these, basically it's a brief look at the past weekend's action in the NBA.

The Celtics blowout in Game 7 was no surprise: Did anyone really think the Celtics would get knocked out of the playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks? Turns out, neither did the Hawks... jeezus! Talk about a major case of sphincter-itis! Actually this series totally reminded me of the Lakers-Sacto Kings in 2000. The Kings were young and hungry and rode the wave of their home court to push the league-best Lakers to a deciding Game 5. And just like Sunday, the Lakers rolled to a 113-86 win. Bring on LBJ, this will be fun!

Utah owned the glass and still loses to LA: The Jazz DOMINATED the offensive glass 25 to 8 which helped them shoot 22 more field goals than the Lakers. Mix in that Pau Gasol played like a rookie and I'm stunned the Jazz didn't win. If fact, except for a late rally, the Lakers held the Jazz in check all game. This series really comes down to the fact that the Jazz simply can't stop Kobe Bryant. And I don't want to hear anything about the refs "helping" Kobe! A lot of those fouls were because the Jazz were too late to rotate over to defend. It's weird... but a team that does such an exceptional job of containing CP3 simply can't stop Kobe.

One last thing, this might be a stretch but Derek Fisher played Deron Williams so well yesterday that I'm wondering if there's like a whole mentor-student thing there. There's no way in hell that D-Fish could hang with Williams, but he had many key steals and did a decent job of containing him. The 18, 9 and 9 were deceptive numbers, Williams wasn't much of a factor.

Rick Carlisle to the Mavs... really? Hey didn't Dallas just fire a defensive oriented coach that calls all the offensive plays? Can Mavericks fans really put up with the s-l-o-w, predictable and boring style of ball that Carlisle likes to play? And was Carlisle that much better of a coach than Avery Johnson? How many NBA Finals appearances? Exactly!

Spurs need to slow it down! Okay, I only watched portions of the Hornets-Spurs game from a distance in a bar (date night with the wife... believe me I tried!), so I won't pretend to be an expert on Game 1. But what I did see was the Spurs trying to match the NO in an up-tempo game... and they got crushed! The Spurs don't have the athletes to match Chandler, CP3 and West in an up-tempo game. Slow it up and slug it out or this will end real fast.

Pistons - Magic: Not too many thoughts here... But if anything, the Magic should try to use Hedo Turkoglu more. There were moments in the 3rd quarter where his offensive game reminded me of Scottie Pippen, but with a better outside shot. His length and ability to draw fouls while driving to the left of the cup need to be exploited more.

BTW - I used to give all the ex-2002 Sacramento Kings a bunch of crap over the years, but Turkoglu, Stojakovic, Bibby and even C-Webb (with quality in studio analysis) have done a good job to shake their choking reputations this postseason.

Playoffs 2008: The List of Coaching Have-Nots

By Craig Kwasniewski

Is it me or have these playoffs established a wider divide between the coaching haves and have-nots? For every Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson leading two well-oiled machines primed for a colossal showdown in mid-May you have Flip Saunders and Doc Rivers doing... well doing their best Doc Rivers and Flip Saunders impressions (read: not coaching). Since the haves are very obvious (Jackson, Popovich, Byron Scott, Jerry Sloan, the Hedgehog and Mo Cheeks) lets focus on the have-nots:

Mike D'Antoni: Honestly, Phoenix Suns fans should be even more pissed off at D'Antoni after Sunday's season-saving win over San Antonio. It only took all of three games for D'Antoni to finally make the key defensive adjustment by switching Boris Diaw on Tony Parker. THREE FREAKIN' GAMES!

When we finally look back at the 2006-07 Suns, people will point fingers squarely on Steve Kerr and blame downfall of the Suns on the Shaq deal. It was a huge gamble that, as Charles Barkley pointed out on TNT, the Suns needed to take a chance on. Sure, they probably needed more time to blend together as a cohesive unit and facing the second best team in the West in the first round obviously didn't help. But Mike D'Antoni cost the Suns this series. Let's even look at that epic Game One where Popovich ran circles around D'Antoni at three key moments:

1. D'Antoni had Leandro Barbosa guarding Michael Finley as he hit the first game-saving three at the end of regulation. Where was Grant Hill? He has same build and athleticism as Finley and is strong enough and has the basketball IQ to throw off Finley from the perimeter. Instead the Brazilian Blur, who's not know for his half-court defense, became the Brazilian Burned and the Spurs were given a second chance.

2. The second game-saving three was a pure miracle shot by Tim Duncan that never should have happened. The Suns should have fouled Ginobili when he was dribbling around the perimeter looking to create (or facilitate, the buzz word for 07-08) for one of the Spurs spot-up shooters. Instead, the Suns watched Ginobili dribble around and then the collapsed on him in the lane leaving Duncan wide open. Why collapse on a guy in the lane when you're up three? And isn't it a European thing to foul instead of playing defense? And didn't D'Antoni make his name as a hoops star in Italy?

3. But the game winner was pure Popovich! The Suns were out of time outs and Nash just hit a risickulous three in the corner to tie it up. Normally Pop would signal an immediate time out and diagram a play. He's notorious for saving all of his time outs for these situations, but the Spurs didn't stop the action. Why? Because the Suns took out all of their interior defenders for that last-second three and Popovich realized that Manu had a good chance at driving the lane for a game winner. Well... we all know how that ended and we all know that Pop CLEARLY dominated D'Antoni.

So the question remains, how many more postseason failures and late adjustments will the Suns' fans, front office and roster put up with? Or more importantly, how many more seasons do they have a relevant Steve Nash on the floor? Stay tunned!

George Karl: Rumors persist that the Nuggets are keeping Karl for next season.

(Time to play "Really" with Seth Meyers and Amy Pohler.)

Really? The Nuggets are keeping a head coach who's led the third highest payroll to a first-round sweep? Really? The Nuggets have a total of three playoffs wins in the last four years (BTW - such a low number that it's grammatically correct to write out the number) and you're keeping him? Really? Melo admits that the team quit in game three. Isn't it the job of a coach to motivate the players? Really? Really? The same George Karl famous for season-ending flameouts in Seattle and Milwaukee is being asked to return? Really? Karl will return to coach the team that "saved" Allen Iverson from 76ers. Isn't that the same 76ers that have at least two more playoff wins than Karl's Nuggets? Really? REALLY?

Avery Johnson: Before Sunday's loss to New Orleans, Johnson was on the 50-50 list along with Mike Woodson, Mike Brown (say what you want about his coaching, the guy pulls out W's), Sam Mitchell and Rick Adelman. But Avery Johnson made two mistakes that killed the momentum of the game and ultimately ended the series (Dallas just doesn't have the stones to rally from a 3-1 deficit.).

What the hell was JJ Barea doing in uniform instead of Tyronn Lue? I know he's injured with a back, but a broken Lue is eons better than Barea! And the Mavs paid dearly when Johnson put Barea in with a lead during the second period. Barea played like it was "win a spot on the Mavs night" and killed all of their momentum. That was the turning point of the most important game of the season and Dallas never really threatened the rest of the way. Why play the ball boy during the playoffs?????

Unlike Phoenix, people should point to the Kidd trade as the downfall of the Mavericks. It never should have happened and now the Mavs are way over the salary cap with Avery Johnson most likely fired this summer.

Doc Rivers: Until this guy actually wins a playoff series (which he hasn't in *NINE SEASONS* of coaching!) I can't ever consider him a good head coach. And the "best team in the NBA" just lost to the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks. Hey I understand... quality teams are allowed to stumble every now and then. As San Antonio showed us, good teams tend to lose focus. But what absolutely kills me is that this guy is actually in the conversation for his second coach of the year award. Really? (opps, I already did that!) So you're telling me that he's getting votes over nine-time NBA champ Phil Jackson or even Jerry Sloan (who deserves it more that anyone). The guy has never won a playoff series in *NINE SEASONS* of coaching!!!!!!!!!

Eddie Jordan: Two GLARING things with the Wizards: bad turnovers and worse emotions. A ton of HORRIBLE turnovers did the Wizards in on Sunday. But what's even worse is the lack of control that Eddie Jordan has on his players. Is it wise to piss of one of the best players in the NBA? Do you really need to motivate him even more?

Flip Saunders: Let's save the best story for last. On Sunday's telecast on TNT, Chris Webber confirmed what everyone in the NBA already knew but didn't know: that the Pistons tune out Flip Saunders. With Detroit losing to Philadelphia by 10 at the half, Ernie Johnson put a question out to the former Piston and new in-studio member:

Ernie: You've been in that locker room with Flip Sauders at halftime, what is the mood in there now.

C-Webb: Truthfully, no disrespect against Flip but it doesn't matter what Flip says because they take on the personality of Joe Dumars. So I'll tell you this: Rip, Chauncey, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed and McDyess are very mad right now, they're probably not even talking and they're probably just saying, "okay we're going to go win this ballgame."

Joe will come down to the locker room though and tell everybody, "I don't know what y'all think you're doing. I'll trade all y'all today." Joe will do that.

So who's doing the coaching anyway... Joe D or Flip? This totally explains why under Saunders the Pistons seem bored during the playoffs. But if they were tuning him out last year (as C-Webb learned first hand), then why is Saunders still coaching them? Again, like the Suns, how many playoff disappointments under Flip Saunders will the Pistons' fans, front office, and roster put up with? Sheed, Rip and Chauncey are getting up there in age. Do they really want to do this again next season?

You can't hide bad coaching in the playoffs.

The Return of Dirty

By Craig Kwasniewski

The rumor of his demise has been greatly exaggerated...

Wasn't it just over a week ago that Dirk Nowitzki twisted his ankle in a nasty spill? Wasn't he supposed to miss a few weeks of action, killing Dallas' chances at making the playoffs along the way? And wasn't Dallas supposed to be the first 50-win team since the early 70's to never make the playoffs?

Just when I was about to write off Dirk Nowitzki as a head-case reeling from back-to-back postseason disappointments he roars back with three RIDONKULOUSLY HUGE games saving the Mavs season and making them the most dangerous 7 seed in NBA history (okay that may be a little strong, but Dallas no longer looks like a whimpering poodle heading for lottery-land).

Let's take a quick look back at the last three games and how Dirk saved the Mavs season:

Dallas vs. Golden State: Criticized by his own coach for lacking leadership and the ability to fight through tough situations, Dirk surprises everyone and returns early from the high-ankle sprain against GSW. Dallas rode the emotions from the defending MVP and throttled the very fatigued Warriors 111-86. (Hey Nellie, you can't run at a 48-minutes-of-hell pace and play only 6 guys all season! Mix in a bench!) Oh and did I mention that this win was the first W against a winning team since the Kidd trade? This was their biggest win of the season!

Dallas at LA Lakers: The Lakers rallied back to pull out a win in the end, but Dallas dominated the first 3 1/2 quarters. Dirk reminded us why he was MVP last season during a 14-0 run in the second quarter. He absolutely killed Pau Gasol for three straight possessions forcing the Lakers to switch Odom on him as the Mavs went small. It made no difference as he took LO to the post and found Kidd for a wide open three (unlike Sunday, Kidd actually hit it). Dallas was short-handed (Stack was out and they were playing Tyronne Lue big minutes????) and had no business taking it to the Lakers. I'm thinking Dallas wins it if Stack is playing.

Dallas at Phoenix: The Amare Stoudemire dunkfest (and intellectually irresponsible MVP discussion) was interrupted after Dallas made a key defensive adjustment and Dirk clutched up with a key steal and two *SICK* hoops. For the first three quarters the Mavs defense focused on Shaq and Nash and Amare made them pay with an array of punishing dunks. So the much-criticized and soon-to-be-fired Avery Johnson made the game altering change and double teamed Stoudemire off screen-and-rolls. The result? The Suns were held to a shocking 9 points and the "MVP Candidate" missed 3 key freethows down the stretch.

BTW - Amare's NOT an MVP candidate! He's padding his stats while being single-guarded most of the time. Just imagine the damage LeBron, Kobe, Wade, etc. would do if they were never double teamed. His numbers ballooned after the Shaq trade because defenses stopped focusing on him! Like James Worthy was to Magic and Kareem so is Amare to Nash and Shaq. Just stop the MVP talk now!

Oh and those two sick jumpers by Nowitzki? Jason Kidd didn't do Dirk any service by dropping the ball off in a "here you take it" manner with the shot clock running down. (BTW - Didn't they get Kidd because of his decision-making skills???) So with Shaquille O'Neal on him, Nowitzki took what looked like two broken plays and hit a two (wait for it...) DIRTY off-balance jumpers to seal the game and secure the Mavs playoff spot.

Maybe Mavs fans will help me on this, but outside of that game-saving three-point play against the Spurs in 2006, was this the grittiest stretch of basketball in his career?