playoffbasketball.com

Why Didn’t Van Gundy Play Rafer Alston?

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:01:22 +0000

Jameer should be used as a spark off the bench. Not a poing guard logging major minutes. He should play max 15 minutes a game. He’s a great player in form, but he’s been way too long for Van Gundy to leave him out there for so long.

Huge mistake by Van Gundy – and this isn’t to say this is the reason they lost the game. Free throws, turnovers, and a lack of offensive fire power to start the second half did. Still, you have to play Rafer.

Kobe Showing Teeth, Trying to Look Tough

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:12:54 +0000

Kobe stop trying to show your teeth. You look stupid. You’re trying way too hard to look like a tough guy. Just play basketball.

Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok Says Kobe Bryant

Tue, 26 May 2009 03:52:12 +0000

Ok Kobe, so did you plan on doing anything or were you just going to say ok over and over.

Also, I’m tired of Mike Breen. The guy needs to go back to the boyscouts.

Doris Burke A Very Good Accouncer

Sun, 10 May 2009 00:14:18 +0000

I really enjoyed Doris Burke’s color in Mavs vs. Nuggets game 3. I thought she provided very good insight and did a great job working with the play-by-play.

Playoff Basketball Heating Up: Ron Artest Gets in Kobe’s Face

Thu, 07 May 2009 05:15:54 +0000

Ron Artest just got right in Kobe’s face and told the great #8 he better not get his elbow up in his neck. I’m telling you playoff basketball is back with this Rockets vs. Lakers series. This is how it was back when the Bulls played the Knicks – not these boring games with no intensity like the Magic and Celtics.

On the Ron Artest Play, I thought Ron was probably going to stay in the game until he made an elbow reenactment. Initially that looked like the Triple H cut throat gesture and the referees were already getting jumpy about how physical the game had gotten. I love that he got in Kobe’s face and told Kobe that he wasn’t going to stick his elbow around his throat area.

Another physical spotlight of the game was Derek Fisher throwing a premeditated forearm on Luis Scola. This is a suspension no questions asked for me. I’m glad the refs did get this one right and threw him out of the game. Phil Jackson is crazy for trying to compare this to something that happened in the Utah series. I think he’s just trying to temper down what happened, but the severity on tape can’t be played down.

This Houston-Lakers series is going to be great. If you couldn’t tell already, I’m pulling for the Rockets. I love Artest in this series.

Shane Battier: A True Player

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:47:18 +0000

I’ve got to watch a lot of Shane Battier in the past week and I’m very impressed with this guy. On the court, he is an absolutely phenomal defender and a terrific teammate. Listening to him speak and just watching the way he acts you can tell he’s a cerebral guy. He’s also the kind of player you would LOVE to have on your team.

Check out the traits:

terrific shooter
decent athleticism
top defender in the league
high basketball iq
doesn’t turn the ball over
easy to get along with
solid free throw shooter
good rebounder
clutch

If this isn’t the ultimate complementary player, I don’t know who is. Battier is the kind of guy that can be the glue of any winning team and someone that any GM would have to be dying to have. Great job by the Rockets in acquiring Shane Battier. If they’re smart they won’t let him go.

The Reemergence of the Big Man

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:17:58 +0000

I love this 2008-2009 Portland TrailBlazers team. They’re so exciting to watch. I know they lost tonight, but you’ve got to love their style of basketball. Greg Oden is another true center in the league that will have a great career. His offense has been a little bit slow to come around, but if you’re a TrailBlazer fan, you’ve got to love the way Oden plays with so much toughness and aggression. He dunks, he blocks shots, and he rebounds. From what I’ve seen and heard about Bill Russell, I think Oden has some shades of the great Celtic. Besides, these are the things I want my center doing. Leave the shooting to Brandon Roy – the quiet stud of the league.

Greg Oden – keep it up, you’re one of my favorites.

Lamarcus Aldridge also looks really good. He’s got more of an offensive touch than Oden but doesn’t have the inside presence he does. Still, the two big men both have unique qualities which make them a great 1-2 combo to go along with superstar Roy in the backcourt. I love the excitement the TrailBlazers bring to these playoffs. It looks like the Rockets will probably pull it out – and the Rockets are cool too – but I’m definitely going for the TrailBlazers so they can give L.A. trouble. Think about it, Portland matches up really well with L.A.

Greg Oden and Dwight Howard represent two mega powers in the center ranks. Glad we have some real centers again. I was getting tired of 7 footers trying to become perimeter players (see Dirk, Rasheed, and KG) and post players in general going lameduck (see Tim Duncan and Shaq).

On Yao Ming, I think he’s a pretty good player for as huge as he is, but I don’t know if he gets to be a big man after the way Nate Robinson threw him. Gasol definitely plays like a post player and you’ve got to love how difficult he makes the Lakers inside, but he isn’t close to what Oden’s potential is and what Howard has set the bar at.

Tyson Chandler deserves mention in here somewhere. I’m not sure where he fits though. He definitely has the athleticism but I haven’t seen enough footage of him.

Dwight Howard Posterizes Theo Ratliff

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:18:14 +0000

Bang. Bang. DUNK! D. Howard gave Theo Ratliff a left handed hammer on his face. He dunked directly on him, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Dwight Howard plays like a true big man which is so refreshing to see. Reminds me of shades of early Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Nuggets Sharp So Far

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:43:18 +0000

After 2 blowouts over the Bugs, the Nuggest have me wondering if they’re for real this season. I’m confident they’ll handle whoever comes out of Spurs/Mavs, but the real test lies with the Lakers. Hopefully past playoff matchups are no precursor to the future Western Finals. If so, I’m not watching.

Note: Give credit to Chauncey for helping the Nuggets take their game to the next level.

Tim Duncan With Only 4 Points

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:37:39 +0000

Needing to summon a huge game after 2 days of rest, the Spurs former MVP Tim Duncan only scored 4 points before Gregg Popovich pulled his starters a few minutes into the 3rd quarter. I guess the Spurs need to conserve Duncan’s minutes so he can be fresh for his 7 points in Game 4.