Back From the Dead
Greetings sports fan, it's been a while. Glad to see you all again, hope all is well. As you can imagine I've got a lot to cover so let's get into it.
NBA:
Talk of the town so I have to start here, right? As I type this here on Wednesday night late, we're looking at some interesting series ahead of us with road wins finally coming in both conferences. 3-2 is tough to overcome and a statistical improbability, and if trends hold we'll see an interesting finals with Thunder vs Celtics. Talk about contrasts...
Big game for Boston tonight. I'm not at all a Miami fan, but certainly don't hate them like most folks not from south Florida. But I will say - I heard Barry say this tonight on post game and I totally agree: when things are going well and they're high flying and dunking, the Heat are great. When they hit a brick wall like Boston and get stifled, they just don't seem like they're leaving it all out there. There was never a point when I thought Miami would pull that out tonight (in the final 3 minutes).
Meanwhile, in the mecca media market that is Oklahoma City, we're seeing the fruits of labor of a very well run organization. This team has only gotten better and better since heading south to Oklahoma and now they've got a hell of a team. Unlike out east, I give San Antonio a much better chance of overcoming 3-2 because, well, they're the Spurs. I just don't think they can keep up the young legs of Oklahoma City. Typically, experience will win out, but this Thunder team has come such a long way they're making their move and establishing their presence in the western conference for the foreseeable future. Here's the deal - championship teams win pressure games on the road. Oklahoma City did it - we've seen San Antonio do it many times over the last decade plus and I *think* they can do it again, but we'll see.
I'm taking Boston to close it out in game 6 in the Gawden. I'll take San Antonio to force a game 7 in San Antonio where young legs will be the difference, with the Thunder eeking out second straight road victory.
Other NBA Notes:
- Listen, I keep hearing how Russell Westbrook is one of the best point guards in the league if not the best. Hogwash. He's not a point guard, he's a two-guard that handles the ball. He wasn't a true point guard at UCLA and he's not one now. He's definitely a scorer (and a very good one), but I'd take Derron Williams, Rondo, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, hell probably even Derrick Rose at this point before I'd take Westbrook as a true point guard - I want a facilitator. If had crap team and needed someone who could score first pass second, he's my man.
- My Lakers need to make some moves. Period. Bynum might be the most maddening player of the last 20 years - he's been in the league way too long to be playing this inconsistent. He's still young (remember, he came out of high school), but he needs a major leap in consistency and dominance. And most importantly, he needs an attitude adjustment.
- One more Laker note - considering who Mike Brown is following, I give him a hell of a lot of credit. Sure he may have relied on Kobe too much, but who wouldn't in that situation?
- Not that I necessarily agree, but my bet is that Spoelstra is out in Miami if they go down in this series.
NFL (why the hell not):
- How in the world is the Drew Brees contract not finished yet? Absurd. Silver lining is Chase Daniel getting LOTS of reps in practices and OTAs this summer.
- Mark my words: this is not the last (nor is it the first) that you'll see of Justin Blackmon doing something stupid. Prior to this DUI, he also had a previous one where he blew over a .20 (allegedly). Do you realize how wrecked out that is? He may and should lose guaranteed money from the Jags for this. That's unacceptable.
- Just so I'm clear: has Gregg Williams (former defensive coordinator with the Saints who was most severely punished for bounty scandal) ever denied the bounty program? I don't think he has and if he has he's been damn quiet about it. My question is why is Jonathan Vilma so adamant that he's innocent and that there was no bounty scandal? Especially when NO ONE else is denying it? I mean, some are saying it's blown out of proportion, but no one is flat-out denying it except him. I'm just saying...
- Weird rant by Jim Harbaugh on not courting Peyton Manning. Uhhh, yeah you were. Stop it.
- I couldn't care less about Hard Knocks, but good for you Miami for giving yourself some exposure....I think. We'll see, but probably can't hurt at this point.
Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week:
- A little late to the game, but just read up on the whole recall election in Wisconsin. What a puppet show. We talk about abuse of our criminal system with an over abundance of law suits. What about abuse of democracy? Playing the system for political gain and ONLY for political gain, at any cost. Why isn't this a bigger outrage and discussion? Both parties do it relentlessly and maliciously. What a mess our political system has become.
- You know what, good for Mayor Bloomberg. I'm almost never in favor of these kinds of things, but a few things to note: 1) kids are fat in this country. Dangerously fat and getting fatter. That's not good. 2) Fat kids leads to fat adults. Fat adults leads to an extraordinary strain and burden on healthcare. 3) If you haven't noticed, our healthcare system is a mess: overtaxed, and costs spiraling out of control. 4) No one is proposing or suggesting that you can't drink all the soda you want. The ONLY thing that is being proposed is you can't buy a 44 oz soda. You can buy twelve 32 oz sodas if you want. And finally, 5) Really? Folks are really crying foul on their civil liberties and freedoms? IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 32 OZ OF SODA AND 44 OZ OF SODA!! If you're seriously worried about this, you probably drink too much soda.
- I had my first (and hopefully last) bout with shingles this past week. I highly recommend avoiding this - it's brutal on a couple of levels. Get your rest, manage stress, yadi, yadi, yadi - avoid shingles like....well, like it's shingles because it is awful.
- Getting some good, steady egg production out of the chickens these days. And yes, I stand corrected, they are awesome. If you recall, I was skeptical as to whether or not you could tell a difference. Well, I did, and it's better. Much, much better.
That's what I've got - enjoy the week.
NBA:
Talk of the town so I have to start here, right? As I type this here on Wednesday night late, we're looking at some interesting series ahead of us with road wins finally coming in both conferences. 3-2 is tough to overcome and a statistical improbability, and if trends hold we'll see an interesting finals with Thunder vs Celtics. Talk about contrasts...
Big game for Boston tonight. I'm not at all a Miami fan, but certainly don't hate them like most folks not from south Florida. But I will say - I heard Barry say this tonight on post game and I totally agree: when things are going well and they're high flying and dunking, the Heat are great. When they hit a brick wall like Boston and get stifled, they just don't seem like they're leaving it all out there. There was never a point when I thought Miami would pull that out tonight (in the final 3 minutes).
Meanwhile, in the mecca media market that is Oklahoma City, we're seeing the fruits of labor of a very well run organization. This team has only gotten better and better since heading south to Oklahoma and now they've got a hell of a team. Unlike out east, I give San Antonio a much better chance of overcoming 3-2 because, well, they're the Spurs. I just don't think they can keep up the young legs of Oklahoma City. Typically, experience will win out, but this Thunder team has come such a long way they're making their move and establishing their presence in the western conference for the foreseeable future. Here's the deal - championship teams win pressure games on the road. Oklahoma City did it - we've seen San Antonio do it many times over the last decade plus and I *think* they can do it again, but we'll see.
I'm taking Boston to close it out in game 6 in the Gawden. I'll take San Antonio to force a game 7 in San Antonio where young legs will be the difference, with the Thunder eeking out second straight road victory.
Other NBA Notes:
- Listen, I keep hearing how Russell Westbrook is one of the best point guards in the league if not the best. Hogwash. He's not a point guard, he's a two-guard that handles the ball. He wasn't a true point guard at UCLA and he's not one now. He's definitely a scorer (and a very good one), but I'd take Derron Williams, Rondo, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, hell probably even Derrick Rose at this point before I'd take Westbrook as a true point guard - I want a facilitator. If had crap team and needed someone who could score first pass second, he's my man.
- My Lakers need to make some moves. Period. Bynum might be the most maddening player of the last 20 years - he's been in the league way too long to be playing this inconsistent. He's still young (remember, he came out of high school), but he needs a major leap in consistency and dominance. And most importantly, he needs an attitude adjustment.
- One more Laker note - considering who Mike Brown is following, I give him a hell of a lot of credit. Sure he may have relied on Kobe too much, but who wouldn't in that situation?
- Not that I necessarily agree, but my bet is that Spoelstra is out in Miami if they go down in this series.
NFL (why the hell not):
- How in the world is the Drew Brees contract not finished yet? Absurd. Silver lining is Chase Daniel getting LOTS of reps in practices and OTAs this summer.
- Mark my words: this is not the last (nor is it the first) that you'll see of Justin Blackmon doing something stupid. Prior to this DUI, he also had a previous one where he blew over a .20 (allegedly). Do you realize how wrecked out that is? He may and should lose guaranteed money from the Jags for this. That's unacceptable.
- Just so I'm clear: has Gregg Williams (former defensive coordinator with the Saints who was most severely punished for bounty scandal) ever denied the bounty program? I don't think he has and if he has he's been damn quiet about it. My question is why is Jonathan Vilma so adamant that he's innocent and that there was no bounty scandal? Especially when NO ONE else is denying it? I mean, some are saying it's blown out of proportion, but no one is flat-out denying it except him. I'm just saying...
- Weird rant by Jim Harbaugh on not courting Peyton Manning. Uhhh, yeah you were. Stop it.
- I couldn't care less about Hard Knocks, but good for you Miami for giving yourself some exposure....I think. We'll see, but probably can't hurt at this point.
Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week:
- A little late to the game, but just read up on the whole recall election in Wisconsin. What a puppet show. We talk about abuse of our criminal system with an over abundance of law suits. What about abuse of democracy? Playing the system for political gain and ONLY for political gain, at any cost. Why isn't this a bigger outrage and discussion? Both parties do it relentlessly and maliciously. What a mess our political system has become.
- You know what, good for Mayor Bloomberg. I'm almost never in favor of these kinds of things, but a few things to note: 1) kids are fat in this country. Dangerously fat and getting fatter. That's not good. 2) Fat kids leads to fat adults. Fat adults leads to an extraordinary strain and burden on healthcare. 3) If you haven't noticed, our healthcare system is a mess: overtaxed, and costs spiraling out of control. 4) No one is proposing or suggesting that you can't drink all the soda you want. The ONLY thing that is being proposed is you can't buy a 44 oz soda. You can buy twelve 32 oz sodas if you want. And finally, 5) Really? Folks are really crying foul on their civil liberties and freedoms? IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 32 OZ OF SODA AND 44 OZ OF SODA!! If you're seriously worried about this, you probably drink too much soda.
- I had my first (and hopefully last) bout with shingles this past week. I highly recommend avoiding this - it's brutal on a couple of levels. Get your rest, manage stress, yadi, yadi, yadi - avoid shingles like....well, like it's shingles because it is awful.
- Getting some good, steady egg production out of the chickens these days. And yes, I stand corrected, they are awesome. If you recall, I was skeptical as to whether or not you could tell a difference. Well, I did, and it's better. Much, much better.
That's what I've got - enjoy the week.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 1:45 AM
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