June 23rd- Now that the games are over, it’s time for TPFsports to weigh in on what we saw. While it’s fun to predict winners and losers, and entertaining to talk about the games while they’re being played – the most important discussions take place when the outcomes are finalized.
Sports seasons follow the same cycle as a school year. Starts off with the exhibition period where summer league signees are scrambling for roster spots (add/drop period). The semester starts off unevenly, some schedules are easy and let you open on a tear, other times it takes time to find a balance and get into a rhythm. By the half-way point you have an idea of what’s going on, you know where the real tests are and when they’re coming up. You try to power through the second half, and hopefully have momentum as you make your way to the Finals. After Finals finish up, you plan for the next year based on your needs (English credits, a shot-blocker, whatever). But the most important asset when you’re finished is what you’ve learned. Do you have a handle on your strengths and weaknesses? Are you getting advice and leadership from the right people? Are you surrounding yourself with people that will help you succeed?
Just a couple of things we noticed in watching the playoffs:
- The Lakers are the best team in the NBA. Seems obvious enough, right? Well, we just wanted to set the record straight for anybody that’s trying to whisper “A healthy Celtics team would have won.” Or “LeBron got screwed by matchups.” The Celtics weren’t as sharp this season, they didn’t replace James Posey, and I always wonder if these “I-Turn-Injuries-Off-In-2k9” apologists pay attention to the fact that the Lakers weren’t totally healthy last year… or this year either for that matter. And as far as the Cavs’ unfortunate matchups go: A slow frontcourt and a small backcourt is poor design, NOT bad luck. The best team in basketball won the championship this year. Kobe played like prime Mike, Pau dug in on defense, and Lamar overcame his sugar addiction to play like the guy we wish he was. They need better point guards, but that’s what this summer is for.
- Dwight Howard needs some practice before I call him The Next anything. He’s the best player on the Magic, and you can ask him to get a basket for you in the 4th quarter. He’s a presence in the middle, and a great rebounder, but he doesn’t possess even one average post move. The Lakers were guarding him with one man, and he couldn’t get the points they needed when the 3-balls weren’t falling. He can’t carry a team in a playoff series.
- Cleveland had major issues. They start at the top, where the front office did a poor job rationing the salary cap. They should have had money available this season to bring in help, or young talent to entice LeBron to stay. They have neither. In 2010, when he opts out, they’ll have funds available to sign him, and maybe another star at a discount. But they should have money this year to improve the roster, and they do not.
Their backcourt is small and doesn’t distribute or defend well, and their frontcourt (save LeBron) are slow and lumbering. They got abused by pick n’ rolls for two months straight, and next season’s forecast is going to be more of the same. Expect to hear a lot of trade rumors, because this roster isn’t good enough to win a championship without consistent super-human performances throughout the playoffs…..
……..like the ones D-Wade put on when he won his championship…..
......... with Shaq.
- The Spurs got old in a hurry this past season. Tony Parker actually elevated himself to my Top Three point guard echelon, but Manu was hurt again and even in a rejuvenated year for Duncan this team wasn’t a threat. They’ve been stashing players overseas and picking their spots well for years, but George Hill and Roger Mason weren’t going to be enough to keep them as a title favorite, which is why they made the move for Richard Jefferson. We still think they should do what they can to get a decent first round pick, in order to infuse some youth. Heytvelt will be available in the late first/early second round. He’ll be a solid rotational Big, and one of those picks will come cheap.
- That Ariza kid that Isiah drafted in the second round turned out to be a pretty good player, huh? Every other team in the NBA passed on him before Thomas snatched him up. It’s always fun to listen to people rip on Zeke and completely omit his drafting. Of course, he swapped Ariza for the “The Mon-Stars Stole My Talent!” version of Steve Francis.
- We wouldn’t let Mike Brown coach our Yahoo! basketball team.
- Chris Paul has a ways to go before we an crown him. We love watching him, given a pick to start a team with any PG the NBA, we’d take him without blinking. But a truly great point guard would not have let Billups take the Snickers from his Lunchables like that. Do you think that would have happened to Walt Frazier, Payton, or Kidd in their twenties? Would that even have happened to Deron Williams right now? (People are smiling in Utah right now and don’t even know why.)
People fell into the “Lots of steals = great defense.” trap, and Billups exposed him badly. We didn’t see him inspiring his teammates in the last three games of that series. He didn’t look like “so much fun to play with” when they were getting blown out by 30. This isn’t me hating either, because we like him. Trust, this is a good thing for hm. That roster needs work also, and if Tyson’s toe doesn’t heal up – their outlook darkens to U.S. Open proportions.
- Anybody paying Boozer more than 8 million is a fool.
- Matter of fact, other than Milsap and Deron – you can scrap that whole roster. We’ve always hated Okur’s (Turkish Sheed’s) game, and we’re over the Ronnie Brewer era.
- The wheels really fell off of the “Carmelo is a disappointment” bandwagon, didn’t they? Is everyone just more comfortable now that he cut his braids? Sorry, we remember everything!
- We're not sure if everyone’s aware of this, but: Golden State essentially swapped out Baron Davis and Pietrus (unsung Playoff hero for Orlando) for Corery Maggette. Just sit on that for a moment. They’re going to lose Monta too, just watch. It’s too bad that he hates it there, because having Brandon Jennings, Jax, and Monta running with Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, and Brandan Wright could create speed and athleticism matchups and make for fun basketball. Oh wait, Don Nelson would rather play Rob Kurz? And management would rather hold the threat of a voided contract over Ellis’ head for an entire season? And they’re firing the one guy (Mullin) that the players like?
Nevermind then.
- Boston’s window is one more year with the current core. And if they expect Ray Allen to have anything left in the tank in April and May, they better have Sky Walker ready to twenty minutes a game this season. Watching Rondo and Rose go back and forth was fun, though. They were exciting and can’t even shoot the ball consistently yet.
- Speaking of which, let Ben Gordon walk and trade Kirk. You’ve pretty much decided you’re starting Salmons, anyway. If you’re worried about the firepower, take Ellington and let him fire away off the bench.
If you’re a superstar with an contract expiring next summer – you’d take a good, long, hard look at the opportunity to play with Derrick Rose for the next five or six years.
- Joe Dumars better have a plan, because that roster is looking flabby and sick, save for Tayshaun of course. We would have much rather seen Charlotte in the eight seed instead of seeing the Pistons at all – looking disinterested and ready to cash out for the summer. I don’t know what they need more, a young point or a young big man. It might be a good idea to purchase a late first round pick… and prepare for roster demolition.
- For the first time in our lives (and possibly the last) some of us wish we were from Oklahoma City. Can’t wait to watch Kevin Durant, young Russell, and whomever they draft.
- Nice to see that Minnesota hired a live body as GM. We’re not in love with this draft, but the fifth and sixth picks are a good way to begin turning over a roster.
- This year’s draft is Griffin, Rubio, Evans, Jennings – and then everyone else.
- Playoff teams next year
East: Cleveland, Orlando, Boson, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte.
West: Los Angeles, Spurs, Portland, Denver, Houston, Utah, Dallas....Oklahoma Thunder
MVP: LeBron
ROY: Griffin
Finals: Lakers v. Cavs
Champs: Lakers
But who cares? Predictions are for entertainment, keen observation is divine. Don’t let scores and results get in the way of your education.
Class Dismissed…..
