Makin' Moves: The Offseason's in Full Swing

Now that the shockwaves sent through the NBA by the summer's early blockbusters have settled, we're settling into a more familiar offseason routine; ludicrous lowballing, obnoxious over-paying, shitty trades and contract re-neging: it's all become disturbingly familiar. Here's a quick recap of what we've seen so far:

- Surprising nobody, the Ricky Rubio tug-o-war ended with the Spanish prodigy returning to Europe to fulfill his current contract and mature as a player. A lot of people get caught up in the hype and forget that, despite the poise he showed in the Olympics last summer, he's still 18 and has a lot of improving to do. He'll be much more ready to contribute in a couple years and will keep potential NBA employers anxiously watching Euroleague Pass at 3 am far too often.

Shrewd move by Minnesota; a lot of people questioned their tactics on draft night, but they now have a promising, athletic (albeit undersized) guard and the league's most intriguing trading chip.

- The Pistons made the biggest free agent splash, tossing big dollars at Charlie V and Ben Gordon to replace the aging stars that are presumably leaving gaps at the 2 and 4. While it's debatable whether this was money well spent (staying under the cap for next summer anyone?), it's hard to argue with the addition of an explosive scorer and a versatile forward who can spread the floor. Something about these acquisitions (namely the abysmal thought of Gordon and Rodney Stuckey co-existing in a backcourt) and the nature of Joe Dumars makes me feel like some more moves might be made...

- Speaking of Dumars, his most illustrious draft selection is on the move again: the New York Knicks are the new proud owners of Darko Milicic, the papier-mache figurine that Detroit decided was more worthy of their draft pick than..well..the legnthy list doesn't need to repeated again, you all know. It's anyone's guess if Mike D'Antoni can summon a shred of the basketball ability Darko was once thought to have, but I'd have to assume a player who's shown all the offensive prowess of a confused giraffe won't be a good fit here either.

- And speaking of troubled big men, the Clippers ousted Wack Randolph; a move that rids of them of a complacent locker room deadweight and leaves an unmolested starting spot for that Griffin kid everyone's talking about. Had to be done. They had 4 potential starters at the 4 and 5, Randolph was the most obvious casualty.

- Not resting on their laurels, the champs went out and added Ron Ron the Rottweiler to replace Trevor Ariza, who assumes Artest's old post at the 3 in the Houston Rocket Crash (honestly..has a squad that took the eventual champs to game seven 2 months ago ever looked so bleak?). He'll be looked upon to fill the same role; be an aggressive wing defender and hit open 3's. While he's older and slower, Ron Ron's a tougher player, better scorer, passer and ballhandler; generally an upgrade. Artest can be the ultimate catalyst in LA, and most indications from last season point to him being a reformed psychopath, one who focuses his intensity on winning games instead of demolishing media equipment. If his ego can remain unphased by the LA aura and Kobe's omnipotence, then the Lakers will only be tougher to beat.

- ...And no offseason would be complete without a quizzical blunder from the Toronto Raptors, who recently saved the Blazers from overpaying for Hedo Turkoglu with an 11th-hour screwball that commits $50mil + to a 30-year old who barely averages Eastern All-Star numbers and waited a decade to prove himself as more than a seventh man. Real Cool. They now boast yet another soft player who can stretch defenses and score from a lot of places, but does nothing to address their glaring deficiencies. What's Hedo going to do for them that Bargs and Delfino aren't already? O yeah, shackle them financially when he's a washed up plug averaging 15/3 with an untradebale contract. Next season.

What's going down next? Will the Phoenix firesale finally consume Amare? Is Joey D done re-tooling the Piston engine? Are the Raptors going to become the next NBA name to relocate to Europe? Stay tuned folks...

Comin' For That #1 Spot

Well folks, the offseason's officially in full effect. As teams scramble like madmen to clear cap space for the impeding superstar exodus of 2010 and leap across the immense canyon separating the league's elite from its commoners, many high-profile names are checking distant propety listings. We've already seen four premiere players (...well...if you're inclined to give Jamal Crawford and Richard Jefferson that much credit) switch area codes, with no shortage of musings about moves yet to come. Certainly some of the moves made early in Thursday's draft would suggest that there's a blockbuster or two in the works, but regardless of what the rest of the NBA plans to do to catch up, its strongest contenders took decisive steps toward the title they crave .

The Spurs went out and grabbed a fourth wheel to balance their offensive attack; adding a physical slasher who can give you 20/game, while giving up a bottle of Pine Sol and some Burger King coupons, never hurt anyone. Jefferson definitely won't fill Bowen's shoes as a defender, but he's a major upgrade, giving the Spurs more size and athleticism, not to mention more than a Steve Kerr-equse offensive presence. As this team becomes less and less Timmy D's, they need talent around him to contend, and they just traded two washed-up big contracts and a big man they can easily replace via free agency. Even if I don't see Jefferson thriving like he did with J-Kidd in Jersey, it's hard not to like this move. Way to take perfect advantage of the Milwaukee Bucks' never-ending implosion. If their injury-prone Big 3 are hurt again next year, the blow won't be as severe; they're probably closer to the title than any team the fucking Mavs ever just put out in the first round.

Meanwhile, out East, the two titans learned the hard way that the Lakers are much better than they are (I still think the Cavs would've fared better, but I digress..), and bodied up; both lowballing rebuilding squads for All-Star calibre players at ten cents on the dollar. Orlando prepped for the Turkish Michael Jordan's departure (..man...that still cracks me up to this day. I still don't know what I find more offensive, the fact that he'd compare himself to His Airness, or how, upon brief contemplation, it's completely true) by adding some Vinsanity to the mix. I like it for many reasons; Vince is a better scorer, better ballhandler and rebounder, not necessarily a worse passer and gives them a second marquee name. I can only pray that Carter's learned a lesson about leadership and humility since his child's antics in T-Dot; all indications are positive but this will be his first time playing for a legit contender; it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

The Cavs, however made the biggest splash (pun completely intended), luring The Big _______ to his first non-vacation-magnet NBA city and pairing the League's most most dynamic talent with its most imposing persona. Cleveland knows they very well might need to win a title this year to keep Lebron, and rolled the dice for all the marbles. I think this was the best trade, not because of my sworn allegiance to King James, but because the Cavs gave up the least and addressed their glaring weakness. They now have a post presence on both end of the floor; one who finishes much better than Anderson Varejao and won't be tossed to the curb like last week's garbage by Dwight Howard. Big Z won't have to play as much and Lebron will average another 2-3 assists per game by default. Not only does this make basketball sense, but blesses Cleveland with the presence of the most playoff-tested warrior left; one who's won four titles, taken three teams to the Finals, and can be the ultimate locker room catalyst. His co-existence with LBJ will be fascinating; Cleveland was already my favorite team to watch, but now I'm openly going to question the sanity of anyone who sees it differently...and let's not even get excited about the oh-so possible Kobe - Shaq/Lebron 2010 Finals...in fact nobody even mention it until next June, it can't be jinxed.

...And then there was One

It's all over. The collective dust from months of anticipation and endless epic basketball battles has settled, leaving the team any fan with a shred of common sense assumed would be the last one standing. The Lakers shut the door on a Magic squad that played hard (losing a couple close games that could've drastically altered the series) but ultimately didn't have the consistency,experience or skill to keep up with LA. Orlando didn't have the constant open looks and minimal D12 opposition the Cavs offered up, looking out of synch and tentative throughout large stretches. You could tell that their entire rotation was popping their Finals cherry.

Orlando now heads into a season of relative uncertainty, with Hedo Turkoglu reportedly opting out of his final year and the bench-unfriendly Rafer Alston now the second horse in the point guard race. Regardless of what goes down over the next few months, they deserve serious recognition for finally making us take their early-season title ambitions seriously. The Magic beat the league's best teams all year, were tested by injury and responded with a resilient playoff run that took the further than anyone would've guessed. A few keys plays unravel slightly differently, Dwight shoots from the stripe like he did against Cleveland, and this might've gone seven games. A Finals loss will always be indescribably painful but they should hold their heads high.

The Lakers' victory was an emphatic re-assertion of one of pro sports' most storied franchises. Legends grew Sunday night; not only did LA win its second-all-time 15th title, the Zen Master passed Red Auerbach in the only playoff supremacy tally he had yet to; the one that counted the most. It cements a very convincing argument that this calm, passive realist might be the best coach the game's ever seen. That "mamba" guy also had an significant milestone, copping his 4th ring, and first outside the imposing shadow of Shaquille O'Neal, making it his most impressive and important yet.

It was a defining moment for Kobe, even after a three-peat and an MVP, this might be his finest moment. Their nerves likely still shook from the dud against Boston a year ago, the Lakers were on a mission for redemption, not unlike the one Kobe recently embarked on with Team USA. And much like his triumph in Beijing, Bryant was a deadly player and true leader. He was a man far removed from the alleged pretentious diva whose ego helped destroy arguably the deadliest duo the League's ever seen. After years of blindly grasping at true greatness through personal dominance (sick as it was), Bryant forced his team to surround him with title-worthy talent, and delivered on the quest the Lakers' decision to keep him in '04 essentially signed him up for.

It's hard to feel anything but happy for Kobe. Dude spent years killing everyone in his path, yearning for a return to the glory days when he lamped, albeit unharmoniously, atop the NBA. He's weathered a frivilous rape charge and consequent character assassination (no, I don't laugh at those Family Guy sequences), to go along with more open hatred than any player this side of Reggie Miller. His dedication and work ethic to the game he was so blessed for were impeccable, and when he finally figured out that whole "no I in team" mantra, it was a rap. He now leads a relatively young team into potentially his second dynasty.

LA's one of two teams in the NBA entering this offseason without serious question marks and moves to make, having recently ousted the other in dismissive fashion. They look pretty fucking untouchable. Kobe, having truly carved his spot among the League's all-time greats, is looking every bit more and more like its All-Time Great, the one he's been incessantly judged against his whole career.

The Final Countdown (cue 80's hair metal)

...Once again after a prolonged absence, I've broken out of hibernation and decided to throw something on here. Basketball Banter's entering a transition phase, albeit at a really shitty time when almost a year's worth of anticipation's coming to a boiling point and some awe-inspiring basketball's being played. Expansion plans are in the works though; I'm linking up an old associate to collaborate on the blog, so we'll have some different perspectives and more regular updates in weeks to come...

The last week of my life has teetered delicately on the precipice of insanity; a combination of some brutally cold poker decks and brutally cold basketball from the delusional Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron n' Friends coasted through the regular season and early rounds of the playoffs with an almighty swagger; demolishing weaker opponents, showcasing their pregame antics, boasting the COY and MVP...and the second they were put in a tough place they crumbled like 'erb. I don't want to take anything away from the Magic; they were a dangerous squad that played extremely well, hitting the 3 with lethal precision and capitalizing on the many mismatches they presented the Cavs with...but I can't help but feel like the supporting cast shat the bed and wasted a boderline historic performance from the King. Nobody was consistent, everybody was a tentative shell of their earlier-season selves. Impressive showing by Delonte, but when he's your second scoring option, you're not winning a Conference Finals. I'm especially disappointed in Mo Williams; dude made such a huge difference this year and was supposedly the missing piece to ths Cavs' title hopes, shoots 30 per-fucking-cent throughout the series, never contributing as a playmaker, all the while his mouth running like Forrest Gump: "I can't see my team losing this series"...I bet he can't see a vacancy in #23's locker space next summer either.

The Cavs were exploited by Orlando: they used Dwight's impositon to open up a floodgate of treys, moving the ball extremely well and wetting and endless array of daggers from long range. Whoever had to double down on D12 (and it was a necessity with Z being too slow, Varejao being too small and Wallace being too useless) left a deadly shooter wide open, and when you give a team like the Magic that many wide open looks, they'll punish you. the Cavs made Rafer Alston look like Mark Price; it was depressing. As much as the rest of the team stepped up (big ups to Pietrus), we witnessed a truly transcendant performance by Dwight Howard. He dominated the boards and caused havoc in the paint on D, even with Lebron's incessant attempts to foul him out, the standard. Howard did everything for the Magic though, scoring at will with a variety of low-post moves and a polished touch, finding open shooters for a Shaq-like amount of hockey assists and even hitting clutch free-throws. It was the kind of showing that truly solidifies a player as a Superstar, and now he has a chance to become a Legend.

He'll only have to dethrone the almighty Lakers though, who despite the Magic's obliteration of my squad, I still think will win the Larry O. The Gasol/Bynum two-headed monster (despite Bynum's poor playoff showing) matches up better with Howard on both ends than the Cavs' bigs, and will surely cause him more foul trouble. They also boast more legnth and better defenders on the perimeter, so Orlando will be more hard-pressed to dump the rock to Dwight then swing to an open man off the double. It'll be a lot harder for players like Alston and Turkoglu (who I vaguely remember being 1-15 before game 2's almost-winner) to find a flow if they don't get so many open looks at the hoop. Meanwhile, they'll have to contend with Bryant, a player who won't attack the hoop and miss foul shots like Lebron did but wet jumpers all day if the Magic's under-rated but over-matched D gives him nearly as much room. Kobe's got more Finals experience than the entire Magic roster and is easily the hungriest guy out there, not to mention the best player. It's hard to bet against the Magic after a convincing East finals victory, but I'm still doing it. They have momentum and optimism for days, but LA's got the better coach, the better bench, the higher expectations, homecourt, a bitter taste still ingering in their mouths from last year, and Kobe. That should be enough. Lakers in 6.

Playoff Diary: 26 Days In

Haven't been up on the blog lately, but there's been plenty going on in the league:

- The Mavs became the latest casualty of the Nuggets Express last night, being convincingly beaten in a series that stirred up an alarming amount of controversy. Mark Cuban's no doubt got some sort of class-action lawsuit pending against referee Mark Wunderlich and David Stern, but regardless of the blatant no-call, Dallas stood little chance in this series. It was gracious of the league to acknowledge they screwed up, but it probably does little to quell the anger in the hearts of Dallas fans (sidebar: is Mark Cuban for real? Confronting a player's mom courtside after a heated loss? Come on man, you've been here before. You know there's a hundred cameras and mics around and seconds after your team took a controversial loss, they're probably mostly aimed at you. Probably the worst time to do something so indecent.) Denver doesn't need to feel like they stole this series; they were clearly the better team, and possibly the best in the West right now...

- Which leads us to the Lakers and their struggles to finish off the Remains of the Rockets. Dare I say a Phil Jackson team's becoming complacent, but even in their victories this series, LA hasn't looked like the fearsome juggernaut everyone took them for coming into the playoffs. Houston had no business stealing two from them, even before Yao went down (...you really weren't expecting it?). While their supposedly imminent Finals opponents have been ruining everyone in their path, the Lakeshow's drumming up memories of their Finals meltdown last year; just not looking like they want it bad enough.

- Celtic Pride's at a fever pitch; after a marathon victory in the first round, Boston's taken the upper hand against a heavily-favored Magic squad that's finally delving into its much-belated second half collapse. I'd love to attribute Boston's success to the monumental void-filling of Rajon Rondo, but Big Baby and Kendrick Perkins have been rocks down low, playing the best ball of their careers when their team needed it most. Either way, both of these teams are looking like cannon fodder for the Cavs next round.

- The recent outburst of suspensions has everybody in the league afraid to raise so much as a forearm. Several series have reached boiling points and it's totally understandable that the league wants to regulate contact and hopefully prevent players from having to "justify their thug". Still though, it's getting a little ridiculous with coaches lobbying for calls like protesting hippies and players forced to play under that umbrella of doubt about what might land them on the bench next game. If the league wants to truly prevent indecent contact on the court, do it through consistent and disciplined officiating; something they've done very poorly thus far this year.

- Danny Granger also took down the MIP. For some reason we found this out about a week after Lebron took down the MVP and people stopped really caring about the awards. I don't get the timing but I can kinda agree with the selection. Granger became a scoring beast this season, most of his best games coming against his toughest opponents. His numbers jumped out so much as to earn him an All-Star berth on a God-awful team, an honor rarely seen in this age. Next he'll have to prove he can do it on a winning team, but it's not looking like the Pacers are going to be one anytime soon. Oh well, congrats.

Got a couple game 6's coming up tonight, one should be a doozy, the other? Well...im hoping for the best. Be back in a few days. RIP Chuck Daly.

Playoff Diary: Twelve Days In

- The Spurs have fallen! Rejoice! For the first time in Tim Duncan's illustriously dominant career, he's taken an L in the opening round, meaning the Spurs have officially lost their ten-year grip on contender status. Good f***ing riddance; over the reign of the Duncan Dynasty, the Spurs gave you few reasons to cheer for them. They were never the most exciting team (often the most boring), rarely would have any obstacles to overcome and were seldom the most honorable. They were just excruciatingly good; a finely-tuned machine of monotonous execution, spawned out of a fluke David Robinson injury that essentially allowed for a West contender to pick up what would become the best power forward ever. Their horrific conquest of the NBA spanned many years, but now they're forced back to the drawing board by an aging and injury-prone roster. It's finally over.

- ...Now that I have that off my chest, how bout that Bulls/Celts series? Wow. Best thing to happen to the NBA's first round since the Golden State Warriors. What I love the most is Boston's Ubuntu-esque "we're not giving up, we're survivors" attitude throughout the series. Honestly? You're playing the fucking Bulls, easily the rawest team in the playoffs. 3 games have gone to overtime and if Ben Gordon ever learns to pass out of double teams your season will end. Paul Pierce has been dynamite in the clutch, but his team needs to stop acting like this is the Finals and what they're accomplishing is of much significance.

- Dwight Howard's been ballin' out of control. Not only has he waxed the glass like a high-rise window washer against Philly, but he's probably just become the first player in history to sideline two players on his squad with separate inadvertent elbows.

- Carmelo Anthony, meet the second round; it was nice knowin' ya New Orleans. The "Big Easy" can now also refer to the resistance the Hornets put up this past week. This team was just too hurt and too offensively inept to hang with the Nuggets, who are looking more thorough every game. Chris Paul was outplayed consistently probably for the first time in his career, and ironically, it was the absence of the guy they tried to ship out mid-season that looked to have hurt them the most. 58-point blowout? These are the kind of thing we just don't expect in the postseason. 

- I was pretty high this morning when I was peepin the highlights from last night's Heat/Hawks game, but did Josh Smith really try to go between the legs in a game? And shank it? That guy's got stones. I know the series is getting physical and these squads are trying to put one over on each other any chance they can get, but Josh, c'mon. You serve up enough demoralizing dunks that you shouldn't be worried about turning the waning minutes of a blowout win into All-Star Saturday Night. You looked dumb and this did nothing to repair your long-damaged relationship with a coach who isn't going anywhere soon. 

Rajon Rondo for MVP. After the Hawks, Rockets and Celts close out these series this weekend I'll be back with some second round previews. Peace.

Playoff Diary: 6 Days In

Almost a week into the NBA playoffs and nothing overly shocking has happened yet. Amid some highly competitive (..well, in some cases) basketball, there aren't too many amazing developments or shocking revelations to speak of. Here's a few things we can take away from what we've seen so far:

- Jason Kidd's a defensive liability. I know it's been said many times before, but with his team's playoff life hinging on how badly Tony Parker exploits him, it bears repeating. His lateral quickness has sunk to Oliver Miller-esque levels, and regardless of his cunning playmaking ability, he's a disruptive presence when the entire Mavs squad needs to play help every possession. It seemed to work in game 3, but San Antonio hasn't collectively shot that poorly since the late Jurassic, so constantly collapsing on Pretty Tony may not win them the series so easily.It's been happening all season; it's surprising Dallas doesn't fall into a zone more. Regardless, if the Mavs survive the first round, it'll be in spite of Kidd's shortcomings.

- The Celtics are cooked. Their big men have stepped up to fill the voids left by Leon Powe and some guy named Kevin's absences, but the Bulls are giving them far too many problems for them to have ambitions of returning to the Finals. Garnett's dynamic court presence is critical to their success and Powe's injury leaves an already-hurt team stretched further. They pounded the Bulls last night, but an opening round trouncing of the least experienced team in the postseason is nothing to suggest they won't be beasted next round (or even next game). 

- If there's a fringe contender at this point, it's gotta be the Nuggets (raise your hand if you thought back in October that those words would be soberly uttered this year). Chauncey's been flawless, even squared up with the league's best point, and as a team they've arguably payed the best ball in this young postseason. 

- As if Greg Oden hadn't hurt himself enough times this year with his bumbling clumsiness, his stupidity has now cost one of the game's most revered players his final playoff run. Dikembe Mutombo; league ambassador, humanitarian, and defensive demigod, has fallen victim to an inadvertent Oden stumble, and says his career is now over. Ironic that a week after I crown him with the Kevin Willis Award, this happens; Deke deserved better. Not only was he a dominant defender, but the league's elder statesmen and one of its nicest guys (and most hilarious characters). He'll be sorely missed. Assault charges against Oden are pending, but defense attorneys are seeking to have the charges dismissed on the grounds that their client isn't fit to stand trial.

- Brandon Roy's no fucking joke. His game and poise are years ahead of their time, and if his name's a big part of MVP talk in years to come as the Blazers continue to come of age, I won't be surprised at all. 

- ...Aaaand then there was the Detroit Pistons: An awkward assembly of savvy veterans and energetic youngsters that, after Chauncey's questionable shipping, look completely lost. Iverson's absence has, not surprisingly, done little to mend issues that have been plaguing them all year. They've lost their heart; they look deflated. They aren't very tough inside. Their point guard wants to score all the time. They don't have a prime-time scorer or game-changing talent. Kwame Brown is in their post rotation. This is a very flawed roster that Iverson's impending free agency will greatly benefit; they've got moves to make. 

- Most Impressive so far? Lebron's been unguardable, Chauncey's been unfaultable, but seriously, did anybody ever think Rajonn Rondo would be playing this well, at any point in his career? Fuck, this guy couldn't hit an open jumper for a 10 sheet two years ago and now he's playing some of the best two-way basketball in the league. 

 

Enjoy the ball this weekend, I'll be back in a few days.

The Journey Begins...

...82 games later we find ourselves at the doorstep of the NBA Playoffs; (most of) the weak links have been weeded out and await the Blake Griffin sweepstakes, while the 16 remaining teams fight it out for the most coveted prize in pro basketball, almost all of them knowing they have no legitimate chance here. Sad to say, the playoffs are looking like a bit of a wash; nobody in the West has really been fucking with the Lakers all year, and the one other team nobody could rule out's been decimated by injury and likely won't be up  to their usual playoff heroics. Cleveland, meanwhile looks almost unbeatable out East; even if Garnett returns for the postseason, he won't be anywhere near 100% in a win-or-go-home situation that will demand the most from his body. Don't sleep on the probability of an Orlando-Cleveland East Finals, (...and please don't try and tell me the Magic have any chance of winning that series having to Enter the Q four times) Boston's very vulnerable right now. Regardless of these playoffs' seemingly obvious outcome, there's still eight matchups to break down, so let's get into it:

EAST

Cleveland (1) vs Detroit (8)

Once upon a time, this was a marquee matchup; one that would decide the East crown and was always sure to be highly competitive. Now that Chauncey's gone and Detroit's status as a legit team's been collapsing like Greg Oden all year long, they'll be seriously hard-pressed to get a single win against Cleveland. The one thing they have going for them is that their best defender matches up with Lebron James. Everything else about this series (generally the Cavs's home court swagger and immeasurably better basketball) screams sweep. Cavs in 4.

Boston (2) vs Chicago (7)

Now that KG's on pins and needles, the plot sorta thickens here. Recall Boston's opening round last year, one where an up-and-coming squad pushed them to seven games because most of their team had never been to the playoffs and their veterans hadn't in so long it was like a crack relapse just getting back there; they weren't sure of themselves. Now they find themselves in a similar predicament, without their leader going up against a Bulls team that's looked impressive since their deadline deal.  But despite Chicago's growth this year, they likely haven't matured enough to knock off the defending champs, and with or without Garnett, they have no answer (let alone a defender) for Pierce and Allen. Celtics in 6.

Orlando (3) vs Philadelphia (6)

This could've been a good series; Orlando shoots an awful lot of threes, enough to get them in trouble against a team that loves scoring in transition off misses. Philly's going to be hard-pressed to stop the Magic's onslaught though; they're not a particularly strong team defensively or on the boards and I can already vividly imagine Sam Dalembert struggling against Dwight. What the Sixers lack is a go-to guy who can take over a game and level the playing field of this series. With Thaddeus Young injured as well, it'll be tough to salvage much more than a game.

Magic in 5.

Atlanta (4) vs. Miami (5)

So Dwyane n' Friends ultimately fell short in their quest for homecourt, but as a consolation prize get to face undoubtedly the weakest team in the top 4. Atlanta's big problem here is that their best player will be asked to lock down Wade, which could not only put him in foul trouble but tire him out; given that JJ's so vital to their offense, this could end up costing them the series. Atlanta's more talented at every other position and (relatively) deeper but I can't help but feel like Wade's penchant for playoff heroics will push his team over the top. Heat in 7

WEST

LA Lakers (1) vs. Utah (8)

The Jazz are a confounding squad. On paper, they're the second-deepest team in the league and if not for injuries wold surely have a higher seed. At the same time they fucking suck on the road and have had a hard time winning against playoff teams lately. Deron Williams is going to have a field day in this series but it won't be nearly enough for Utah to topple the mighty Lakeshow. Lakers in 5.

Denver (2) vs. New Orleans (7)

The Nuggets, for the first time in an eternity, are entering the playoffs poised and composed, ready to square off against a team that hasn't looked like itself, playing like the Raptors instead of a squad that almost knocked off the Spurs a year ago. Chandler's been a shell of his former self, Peja's proving more and more obsolete, and while containing Chris Paul is a very relative term, Billups is probably one of the best-suited to do it. Denver's improved commitment on D, combined with NO's lack of firepower, will spell a first-round exit for the Hornets. Nuggets in 6

San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6)

I love this matchup; the fact that one of these teams is guaranteed a first-round exit makes me happier than Damon Stoudemire will be on Monday (check the calendar). Manu's absence really hurts the Spurs, stretching their bench and forcing guys with little playoff experience to carry heavy loads. Furthermore, for the first time in a decade, the Spurs aren't peaking heading into the playoffs; they've looked tired (especially Timmy D) and Dallas has been playing some of its better ball down the home stretch; against a decimated San Antonio squad I like them pul off the upset, as much as that hurts to admit. Mavs in 7.

 

Portland (4) vs. Houston (5)

This has the potential to be one of the better series; these teams play contrasting styles of ball and neither has much playoff experience; there'll be plenty of opportunities for this matchup to go either way. Portland's got homecourt and has been damn near unbeatable at the Rose Garden, so I see this one falling their way and Yao joining his old buddy T-Mac in first-round purgatory. (I'm trying to watch the Celtics/Bulls game, so I'm being concise here). Blazers in 7.

Whatever goes down, here's hoping "amazing" happens. Go Cavs. 

2008-09 Basketball Banter Awards

...So now that we've got the standard season-ending awards out of the way, it's time to turn our attention to those that fell short of the NBA's top honors; those whose achievements didn't fall into the narrow focus of six categories but still accomplished something special in 2008-09. What follows are a variety of honors exclusive to Basketball Banter; some glorious, some dubious, all deserved of some recognition.

Here it goes...

The Canibus Award - Greg Oden, Portland Trailblazers
Given to the player who was supposed to blow up do something huge this year, but never really accomplished much.

I know it seems unfair giving this to a 21 year-old rookie, but this disappointment of Oden's NBA debut is too profound. Here was a guy who was so highly touted coming out of college, a player whose undeniable future as the league's dominant big man made him the top draw ahead of scoring machine Kevin Durant. Expectations were high, but even after a year of rehabbing his injury-prone leg, Oden fell shorter than his own vertical. He was regularly sidelined with minor injuries that spoke to how poorly his body was holding up to the NBA; when he did play, the 9/7 he put up were underwhelming. He spent more than his share of time on bench in foul trouble and clearly hasn't grasped many basic fundamentals like passing out of double-teams and jumping for rebounds. Oden's offensive game is uglier than Tori Spelling and he just seems lost out there most of the time, botching plays and running the floor with the grace of a stoned hippopotamus. He showed some progress as the season went on, but it's going to take a lot of work for GO to justify the hype.
Regards to: Luol Deng, Bulls; Yi Jianlian, Nets; Richard Jefferson, Bucks

The Shawn Kemp Memorial Award - Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Given to the player who through demoralizing swats and/or vicious facials has emasculated the most grown men this season.

You saw it far too many times this season. It was horrifying. A small, defenseless guard would be fast-breaking to the hoop, nothing standing between his stride and an open layup. He'd see it coming over his shoulder, knowing what lurked behind, closing in ever faster, but also knowing he could not outrun his predator. He'd go strong to the hole, at least as strong as he could, only to have his feeble attempt sent off the backboard into the mid-court 5th row. Or a big man lumbering through the post, distracted by a baseline cutter or post screen, unaware of the imminent attack by flying terror. They'd always see it coming a second too late, arrive a step too slow and have their clumsy attempts at defending the basket re-played on SportsCenter enough for us to never forget. We were subjected to suh brutal assaults every time LeBron James played this year. What's even more disturbing is that there's no end in sight to this madness...
Regards to: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Dwight Howard, Magic; Nene, Nuggets

Ham of the Year- Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
Given to the player who through on and off-court incompetence failed to meet any/all expectations.

Quite rarely does a bonafide superstar suffer a season-ending injury and have his team respond with an unquestionable improvement. Such was the case of McGrady this season, whose Rockets contended for home-court in the West only after his dysfunctional jumpers and general indifference were removed from the equation. Selfish, inconsistent play and clashes with teammates highlighted a season that ended even more prematurely than T-Mac's gotten used to. Ironic because this was the the year McGrady was finally supposed to pull it together and get out of the first round; he had the squad to do it. Now the Rockets will be paying him $21 million to hang courtside and watch an over-achieving team potentially break the first-round curse that's plagued him his entire career.
Regards to: Eddy Curry, Knicks; Greg Oden, Blazers; Elton Brand, Sixers

The Flavor Flav Award - Nene, Denver Nuggets

Goes to the player who, against all odds, had the most significant comeback in the league.

I was trying to give this award to Shaq; what he did this season impressed me a lot; after a few years of (as I see it) coasting, he committed himself to getting in shape and became a legitimate All-Star again. The Phoenix training staff seemed to think O'Neal could still play at this level when they acquired him and, and if their best player didn't go down, he'd be a huge part of a team that could've made some noise this year...But as nice as Diesel's comeback was, Nene was facing a far greater obstacle than slight nonchalance and some extra pounds. Testicular cancer; a crippling and humbling ordeal that sidelined him all last year. He came back nastier than ever; 14/8 on 60%, dunking on everyone in sight with over a steal & block every game. Denver has to still be kicking themselves for dumping Marcus Camby last summer, but Nene's resurgence has lessened the blow.

Regards to: Shaquille O'Neal, Suns; Dwyane Wade, Heat; Chris Andersen, Nuggets

The Kevin Willis Memorial Award - Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets

Given to the player who shows outstanding commitment to the game through a complete unwillingness to retire.

One of the disadvantages of coming from a technologically-challenged tribal settling in Zaire; you don't really know how old you are. Deke's listed at 40, but it's painfully apparent that he's no younger than 65 and should long ago have been honored as the league's oldest player. And retired. It's a miracle that the Elmer's holding his knees together can support his 7'2" frame anymore, but before Mutombo completely fossilizes mid-shot-block, he should just hang them up and let everyone salute one of the dominant defenders the league's ever seen.

Regards to: Donyell Marshall, Sixers; Theo Ratliff, Sixers; Grant Hill, Suns

The King Leonidas Award - Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Goes to the player who valiantly led his squad against unbeatable foes, putting up heroic performances on a horribly overmatched team.

I was overly critical of Durant last year; in my mind Al Horford had a more significant rookie campaign after Durant shot the ball poorly (albeit to the tune of 20/game) with the green light on the league's sorest team. The progress that Durant showed this season is making me wonder what my herb was laced with back then; how I didn't give a guy this nice the ROY. Durant's game showed much more maturity this season; apart from showing signs of beginning to acknowledge defense, he improved his shot selection and diversified his offensive set; showing the kind of improvement that should truly horrify every other GM. He'll continue to get stronger, to get smarter, to improve upon a raw talent that's already among the League's top 5 scorers. If his team can show the same growth, it'll be time to crown a new champion next season.

Regards to: Al Jefferson, T-Wolves; Danny Granger, Pacers; Devin Harris, Nets

The Bobby Boucher Trophy - Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
Awarded to the player whose addition to a team created the greatest positive impact.

While the Nuggets may have only won five more games than they did last year, they enter the Playoffs as the West's second seed with a far more composed approach to basketball, largely thanks to Billups' early-season arrival. Chauncey initiated a far less erratic attack o n offense and instilled some defensive discipline in the league's most blatantly one-way team; restoring order to a team that had all the talent but was lacking that intangible glue to hold it all together. Billups proved a strong adhesive; not only mentoring Denver's immature roster but putting up All-Star numbers. Consequently, the Nuggets are looking like the favorites to be humbled by the Lakeshow in the West Finals, which given their pre-season outlook is nothing short of astonishing.
Regards to: Mo Williams, Cavs; Ron Artest, Rockets; Shawn Marion, Raptors

The Biggie Smalls Award - Amar'e Stoudemire
Given to the player whose loss hurt his squad the most.

It was a tough year in Phoenix; the Suns were forced to play a suffocated form of basketball under an uninspiring coach for the first half of the season. They were losing games, losing patience, losing hope. Something had to give, and after management openly shopped Stoudemire, they shrewdly canned Terry Porter and let the team continue doing what it was built to do: score. Lots. Things appeared to be returning to normal; Phoenix was winning, dropping 120+ nightly, looking dangerous again; it was too good to be true. A week after Alvin Gentry rejuvenated a morbid roster, Stoudemire's freak eye injury sidelined him for the year and essentially sent Phoenix's season into the tank. With him, they'd be a team nobody wanted to face in the playoffs; but the reality of his absence leaves the Suns with a few extra weeks of vacation time and Stoudemire as this award's clear-cut winner.
Regards to: Michael Redd, Bucks; Al Jefferson, T-Wolves; Carlos Boozer, Jazz

The Titanic Trophy - Toronto Raptors

Given to the league's biggest disaster this season.

It's really a toss-up between these guys and the Clips, both of whom made big off-season acquisitions that had them thinking playoffs, both of whom bottomed-out in their respective conferences and generally just shat the bed all year. I gave it to the Raptors because LA plays a much tougher schedule and, really, it's the Clippers here; something always goes wrong with them so my expectations are never really that high. Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel the same way about Canada's last link to (real) professional basketball. Toronto spent this year playing uninspired, confused basketball against weak opposition, only to finally pull it together over the season's final month and play to the level everyone considered them on. The requisite "...we're building towards next season" that Raps GMs have been spitting out for the last decade or so seemed especially tired given the pre-season hype. Instead, the Raps are stuck leaving their fate to a bunch of bouncing balls, hoping something can go their way this year.

Regards to: Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons

Congrats to all the winners. The Playoffs kick off this weekend (and either San Antonio or Dallas is going home in the first round!!), so stay tuned for previews and game notes this weekend.

Envelopes Please...

It's everybody's (or at least my) favorite time of year again; the days are getting longer and warmer, school's drawing to a close and the NBA Playoffs are upon us, mere days away. There's sure to be plenty of incredible ball in the weeks ahead, but it's important not to lose sight of the amazing individual displays that players have put on this year. With that in mind, here's the Basketball Banter 2008-09 Awards; a chance for those who truly achieved greatness this year to be honored properly: in a lightly-read, highly irrelevant blog. Today we'll recognize the winners of the league's official awards with some fictional, but entirely deserved, trophies being handed out later this week.

Without further ado...

Rookie of the Year -- Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Rose's selection above Michael Beasley in last year's draft raised a few eyebrows and set the bar very high for a guy who'd be expected to quickly restore order to one of the league's schizophrenic offenses while learning the ropes of the big leagues. Any doubters were hastily silenced as Rose jumped out early as the best among a talented crop of rookies and never hit the proverbial wall. Although his jumper's been suspect, his quickness allows him to get to the hoop at will, where here's proven equally lethal at finishing among bigger bodies and setting up open shooters. His toughness and speed on defense are admirable and allow him to hold down even the league's biggest 1's. Even beyond pure talent, which he has in bundles, is his court presence; his poise and clutch playmaking have been the main reason the Bulls are back in the playoffs. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf called this season a "disaster" back in February, and if not for Rose, it likely would've been. Instead, the Bulls are headed back to the playoffs, and finally in the right direction.

Regards to: OJ Mayo, Grizzlies; Russell Westbrook, Thunder; Brook Lopez, Nets

Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

This might've been the easiest award to decide, Howard's leading the league in blocks and rebounds, imposing his will in the paint on D like no one since the Admiral. He's the defensive backbone of a team that isn't great at it, preventing more would-be attackers from entering the paint than any other just by suiting up. His combination of size and freakish athleticism are unmatched, and he's showing a better understanding of court positioning with each season. While his offensive game continues to (slowly) develop, Howard's already mastered the game's more disciplined practice and there's no reason to suspect he won't be raking in a lot more of these in seasons ahead.

Regards to: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Ron Artest, Rockets; Tim Duncan, Spurs

Most Improved Player - Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors

Tough call here. There were a lot of guys who had breakout seasons; a couple swingmen took over and became straight-up dominant scorers, a point guard used a much-needed change of scenery to crack the starting lineup and double-up on his stats. Two more young 1's evolved into All-Star caliber players for top-tier teams, even an old warrior who once ruled the league shook off the rust and became a factor again. Despite all this it was Bargnani whose late-season stride showed the most growth in his game. Last season "Il Mago" (The Magician) was unimpressive, being bitched around on D by bigger pivots, and playing like the awkward shy kid at a junior high dance with the rock in his hands; never quite sure what to do with himself. This year, forced back into starting out-of-position by the O'Neal debacle, Bargs found some confidence, began taking better shots, attacking the rim more and at least standing up for himself in the post against stronger foes. Over the season's second half, he was perhaps the Raps' most potent offensive weapon, regularly droppin' 20's on an impressive variety of aggressive drives and long-range bombs. His numbers may not have jumped as much as some other contenders', but Bargnani defied expectations in a difficult situation and was the only bright spot in a disgraceful season for Toronto.

Regards to: Kevin Durant, Thunder; Chris Duhon, Knicks; Devin Harris, Nets

Sixth Man of the Year - Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

This became a serious race when perennial favorite Manu Ginobili missed considerable time this year, and the newly-benched Terry's embracing of his new role made him the immediate favorite; he had his best season as a Mav, doing almost 20/game as their only b ackcourt scoring threat. Instead of causing a fuss about losing his starting spot to a less talented player, Terry accepted the demotion and breathed life into a languid Mavs second line, becoming more of a pure scorer, true to his skill set. His brief injury absence brought on Dallas' worst ball of the season, so believe he'll be a key to any noise (however hushed) Dallas makes in the playoffs.

Regards to: Nate Robinson, Knicks; Lamar Odom, Lakers; Michael Beasley, Heat

Coach of the Year - Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic

Winning this award is increasingly impressive in today's age where coaches are canned like tuna and the bench boss' efforts often lie in the shadows of his players' exploits. 2008-09 was no exception; changes on the sideline were made early and often, poor Terry Porter didn't even make it through his first All-Star break with Phoenix. But it wasn't all bad. This year, Van Gundy was the unsung star for a Magic team that exceeded all realistic expectations through the usual early-season hype and loss of their All-Star point guard. He seamlessly incorporated Rafer Alston, he of the turbulent offense, as a replacement and Orlando hardly skipped a beat. In the process they managed to avoid the mid-season meltdown that's plagued them in recent years, and performed well against Boston and Cleveland, recently breaking the Cavs' spirits with a 30-point ass-whupping. This Orlando squad, despite going through numerous roster adjustments and having some very glaring weaknesses, is their best bet to return to the Finals since Diesel rocked Magic threads, and Van Gundy should be commended for it.

Regards to: Mike Brown, Cavaliers; Rick Adelman, Rockets; Nate McMillan, Blazers

Most Valuable Player - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

It was a season of great importance for the Cavs; they were drawing ever closer to the summer of 2010, the day of reckoning when a hometown kid who just happened to be (arguably) the best basketball player alive would surely desert them if they didn't put a winner around him. There was a lot of talk about Lebron's supposedly imminent departure, and recent roster moves left plenty of uncertainty about what the Cavs were going to do this season. For the first time, King James' surroundings were as consistent as he was, but His Excellence's excellence managed to surpass even his own lofty standards this year. He improved his free-throw percentage and shot selection, became a more committed defender while continuing to score at will and create open shots for teammates where no others could. The Cavs consequently own the league's best record and its best player will almost certainly get to wear the MVP crown.

Regards to: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Kobe Bryant, Lakers; Chris Paul, Hornets

Congrats to all the winners. Part II drops in a few days...