(As described by Andy Gray in his SI Vault Twitter feed)
I'm on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting tonight's opening game of the Finals. And Bawful's fantastic recap of the Lakers-Celtics feud over the years has only made me even more giddy with anticipation.
Basketbawful reader Murcy shares this brilliant satirical look at the 2010 NBA free agents. In response, AnacondaHL shares "the original text, courtesy of Canada."
Hockey related, but totally badass: according to posts I've seen on Twitter the past few minutes (no other links yet, sorry), Ron MacLean jumped into the Delaware River to save a man who was trying to take his own life this afternoon.
Some quick basebawful before we get to the rest of the post: My buddy Corey and have tickets to the Cubs/Mariners series in Seattle in three weeks. I was hoping to finally see Ken Griffey, Jr. play in person. Alas, no such luck. Griffey announced his retirement yesterday (which was of course overshadowed by this, one of the pinnacles of basebawful. And you really should watch this West Virginia man's reaction to the blown call -- dude flips out while wearing short shorts and spitting chewing tobacco). The truly sad part of this, however, is that none of the players featured in the legendary Homer at the Bat episode of The Simpsons are still active players. Damn I'm getting old.
Worst of the last Conference Finals Weekend in Pictures:
NBA Finals - Game 1:
Celtics at Lakers - ABC, 9:00pm
Series tied 0-0
The Zen Master is trying to convince his team to take more charges instead of always making a play on the ball. Drawing a charge is great, right? You get the ball, and the other team gets a foul against them. What's not to like about it? According to Ron Artest, everything:
"I don't even know how to take a charge. To get the charge you have to fall. I'd rather not fall. You call an offensive foul, possibly be a fight. That's just how we grew up playing basketball."The subtle difference between playground pick-up hoops and the NBA flippin' Finals seems to have escaped Ron-Ron. Then again, does this surpise any of us? This is the same man who jacked up that absolutely indefensible three pointer against the Suns, but was later forgiven because he got the game-winning rebound and shot. And that's completely ignoring the Malice in the Palace, since I'd like to think he's a slightly different man in 2010 than 2004.
One last tidbit... There was a great article in this week's Sports Illustrated in which we learn about Kobe's shooting stroke getting changed this year by Chuck Person. First off, it's interesting to read about why his shooting percentage dropped after the broken finger aside from just, you know, having a broken finger. It was because Person had Kobe work on getting his arms up and into the shooting motion quicker, keeping his elbow more in line with the basket, and using the index finger just to balance the ball so he could create more backspin with his middle and ring fingers. Obviously it took awhile to adjust to this, but now (much to my chagrin) Kobe has put up insane shooting percentages in the playoffs because of the improved accuracy and more favorable bounces and rolls on the rim. And it's also just plain cool to hear Chuck Person's name again. The last time I heard that name I was draining 80 footers while on fire in NBA Jam.
Labels: 2010 NBA Finals, Bawful After Dark, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers
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Repost: The Worst of Celtics-Lakers Part 9Repost: The Worst of Celtics-Lakers Part 8
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Belated Worst of the Night: Game 6s Edition
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BTW: Does Ron Artest have a park named after him in New York? 30 Rock made a really random joke about it a few weeks ago.
Everything I know about baseball I learned from the Simpsons!
Carlos Boozer went on a Miami radio station (basically to audition for a spot on the team) and the host ended up talking about how weird Mormons are and how much Utah sucks. Now I usually am pretty light-hearted about religion, (this blog's "Mormon Musician's description is great) and Utah isn't a very exciting place, I am grateful when any free-agent signs with the Jazz (and have nightmares about D-Will leaving)
ANYWAY I was having a rough day and emailed the station director about how its not cool to belittle any religion on air (I know, it's a bit douchey of me, but the response was even doucheir....(I hope, feel free to flame away at me...)
Marc,
First, thank you for your email and input. I apologize if you were offended by Sid question to Carlos. Sid meant no malice and does not really think that Mormons are “crazy”. To say that Sid “belittled” Mormons is a huge stretch. The question was asked in tongue and cheek way and should not have been taken seriously. Secondly, Sid has made similar comments about Jews, but maybe because he is one, or maybe because most Jews have a sense of humor, we got no complaints. I’m guessing that if you had heard those Jew comments that I would not have received a complaint email from you. Sid has been reprimanded and this issue is closed. Thanks again for your input and Miami is actually market 12.
Lee
Orginal story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700037254/Boozer-defends-Utah-in-interview.html
I especially love that B&W shot of Michael Jordan from his high school days. The picture shows him in mid-jump on his way for a layup or dunk. But with the way the picture was taken and the B&W flash effect, he looks like he has jumped so high that he's hovering near the roof of the gym.
Too bad I can't find it right now.
http://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/ChicagoBulls/History/MJordan/HighSchoolJordan.jpg
Let phase 1 of celtic demise commence!
PS, if Bavetta refs any of the games, bet money on the Lakers for the victory.
/bitter Kings fan
//Game 6 2002 Western Conference Finals
Those tough shots he hit with the defense right up in his mug late in the fourth quarter alone should be enough to get him into the Hall Of Fame.
The Lakers needed every one of those points too, with Los Losers making a charge.
Anyway, it should be an entertaining Finals.
Thanks for the picture, but that's not it. It's definitely from the same era though.
In both pictures, you can see the defined shadow of Jordan's arms on the ceiling from the camera flash. But in the picture that I'm talking about, Jordan's legs are in a "Jumpman"-like pose while his arms are in mid-layup pose. There's nothing except for Jordan, the ball, and the ceiling - with Jordan's shadow high on the ceiling, it looks like the photographer snapped the shot as MJ jumped from the top rafters.
Okay, I found the picture. My picture is a bit fuzzy because I got some parts of it wrong. First, there is a basket in the picture, although the picture that I saw may have had the top part (with the basket) cropped off. And Jordan's legs aren't quite like in his "Jumpman" pose.
But otherwise, the effect is still the same - those B&W flash-induced shadows are just awesome.
http://www.michaeljordan.pl/zdjecia/statystyki/michael_jordan_laney_high_school.jpg
WV: excesspe- It can never be said Oliver Miller suffered from Excess P(hysical) E(ducation).
Right now Celtics have taken more free throws than the lakers.
I love the way kobe looks right at artest wide open at the three and just ignores him.
Artest may actually be right about a Lakers Finals win or loss being related to him - and right now he's helping their cause.
Bawful is right about a closely called game helping the Lakers. When the Celtics are actually called for fouls, their "defense" falls apart.
Actually the backpedalling you do now that Boston has lost that first game is gonna be really entertaining, assuming you don't just skulk away and vanish, of course. Let the spinning begin!
Refs were quick on the whistle but that actually helped the celtics with Paul Pierce camped at the charity stripe. Speaking of Pierce, Jesus Christ did Artest rip out his jugular and took a dump down his throat.
Overall,very solid game from the Lakers. Pau was great, Kobe did his thing and Ron Artest actually played well, who'da thunk it?
Boston took 36 free throws, LA took 31. Way too many FTs for a Finals game, gotta let the players play! Still, I'm very happy the Lakers have set the tone in this one.
Go LA!
The refs were bad in that they called the game so close, but they called it close both ways, and there was a lot of foul trouble for both teams, and ultimately the Celtics shot more free throws than LA did. So let's keep all the bitter whining about the refs to a minimum if possible. Yeah?
Boston played about as badly as you can imagine. The only concern I'd have for Boston is KG's knee. If he's hurt badly, Boston is done. Otherwise I could easily see Boston still winning this series. But winning game 2 is a must, obviously.
And it would be nice if they stopped blowing the whistles so much. However that favors Boston, and I don't think Stern would like that very much.
Would Kobe keep driving if he got his fifth? Or Pau Gasol? Pierce only did because the game was out of reach by the fourth quarter, so it didn't matter.
Even if this is Celtics and the Lakers, this was a mind-numbingly boring game. Exactly the style of play that favors the Celtics. They will win Game 2, the NBA needs this to go at least 6.
And, sorry Gabe, I hate to break it to you but you should expect Artest to keep playing good defense in this series. Not only is it what he's known for, he's been doing it throughout these playoffs. Just ask Kevin Durant and Jason Richardson. Pierce may go off, but he's gonna have to work to do it.
Kinda feels like the whining has started with you...yeah? No offense, but, I mean, can you wait to start complaining about people complaining until they've actually started complaining?
Boston played about as badly as you can imagine.
So apparently the Lakers didn't win, it was that Boston lost. This was all about Boston just playing so poorly and not that the Lakers nearly categorically dominated them (with exception to free throws). It had nothing to do with the Lakers pulling away every time Boston made a run, or that none of LA's players looked even remotely intimidated by the usual "dominating defense" (read as "fouling"), that every player on the Lakers had fire under their asses while some of the Celtics looked as if they were choking on their misplaced overconfidence. It's not as if the Lakers or Phil Jackson have learned anything at all from two years ago.
No no, clearly it was just a massive fail on Boston's part and nothing more at all. The Nets could have shown up and won, right? LA had absolutely nothing to do with the win. Besides, it's not like Gasol has anything to prove against the team that obliterated him two years ago, and it's not like Artest is known as even a remotely good defender or anything.
Yeah, keep trying there, buddy.
WV: awfac - When Kobe nailed the last deep 3 to get everyone tacos, Boston's bench could only watch and say "Aw fac".
But I was refering to Artest's offense. He's been atrocious and he actually shot well 2nite. That's what I mean the Lakers can't count on.
Gasol spent the whole WCF getting punked by the midget Suns. I just think this game was an aberration. He can't play tough for the whole series, that's not his nature.
My ideal game, regardless of who is playing, is a bare minimum of fouls called and free throws attempted, even if both teams just clobber each other. I just hate all the whining that goes on around here (and on the web in general) about the supposed conspiracy and the refs playing favorites. LA won cause they played with more intensity, more desire, and more purpose. The refs had nothing to do with this win. The refs didn't cause KG and Perk to collect only 7 total rebounds, and they didn't cause the Celtics to go 1-10 from three.
Regarding Artest's offense, you're right on the money. I cringe every time he catches a pass at the three point line and just hope he doesn't squat his butt down or I know it's most likely gonna be a turnover. But that's not what LA picked him up for. His defense might be trumped up a bit too much, but that doesn't mean it's not still effective. His reaches and gambles result in steals and deflections (and some dumb fouls sometimes, yeah) but I'll take that over just squatting and staring at the guy he's defending.
But yeah, his offense in no way can be counted on, like you said.
I seem to remember, as someone else also previously stated, that Gasol played fairly tough against Howard in the finals last year and against Boston in their regular season games this year. Is he suddenly immovable, solid rock? Not even close. But he's definitely better than he was against Boston two years ago and he's nothing if not consistent so, barring a game where he'll get crushed on every single play (I predict game 3 where Boston gets some home cooking to make up for going down 2-0 in LA) I wouldn't see him not playing that way for most of the series.
Odom...on the court, he is what he is. Boston actually cut down LA's 20-pt lead to 13 in something like five minutes, with Odom in. Five fouls, missed or fumbled rebounds/loose balls, lost on defensive switches...amazing.
Just want to let you know that Garnett was turrible from the time where he missed a wide open dunk (then proceeded to play volleyball with himself) to the end of the game.
I don't know the detains but I remember he had 2 really silly fouls, and through a 40 foot pass out of bounds for no apparent reason.
That is all.
Also, Artezzy had a +26 in the game. YAYUH.
I think this goes six, only because we've got two coming in Boston.
I would like the Lakers if it wasn't for Kobe, actually. I mean, he's an awesome player and all that but I just don't like the guy. The rest of the Lakers I don't have problem with if they win a championship. Gasol? I like to see Euros doing well. Odom? I like his allroundedness he sometimes shows. That, and the Candyman nickname. Artest? Crazy but kinda hilarious and he does a pretty good job in not melting down and punching people lately.
But I like the Celtics more. Maybe it's the European thing, not supporting one team for 100%? You know, maybe that would be a nice topic for a summerarticle, when people are fed up with the free agent bonanza for a while: a piece about the nba-experience from different parts of the world, with readerinput. Just thinking out loud.
What's with all the fake "Boston fans" born and raised in Southern California? I mean, did so many jump on the bandwagon just from '08, because I doubt you were all rocking the green when the Celtics were losing from 3,000 miles away the previous 20 years. You do realize you're an embarrassment not only to yourselves, but to Los Angeles and Boston alike, right? I mean, if I was a real Boston fan, I wouldn't want some stereotypical fair weather frontrunner phonies, from Los Angeles no less, shamelessly jumping on my team after they won one. There's nothing worse than seeing some guy who was born and raised in LA, who's never even been within 1,000 miles of the East Coast, shamelessly wearing their exactly two year old Kevin Garnet #5, and it's not because their lucky Parish jersey was in the wash. I doubt this is a problem in Boston, and it's one of the things that gives LA fans a bad rep. Deservedly.
Whew, I feel better, now I won't need to strain any relationships.
Gilbert "Handgun" Arenas?
Gold!
Also Kobe on Rondo worked out pretty well for the lakers. In the opening minutes Kobe was a bit nervous that Gasol would turn into delicious goo against KG and so helped out too much, leaving Rondo open. But after they settled down Rondo was really ineffective as a guy that creates plays when kobe was on him.
As far as this being Boston just sucking, that's fucking hilarious. Boston may have gotten out of rhythm due to foul calls but fouls were being called both ways. The key was Lakers simply were more aggressive, they never gave Boston an inch unless they had to. When Odom started slacking off on D and taking terrible shots, Boston cut the lead to 13. This shows that Boston were executing their plays but they were running into a brick wall. So I don't think Boston just had an off night, I believe the Lakers put a pillow over their face and repeatedly shot them through it.