Thursday, June 9, 2011
Mr. Armchair Speaks: For As Good As LeBron's Stat Line Is, It's Not Wha...
Mr. Armchair Speaks: For As Good As LeBron's Stat Line Is, It's Not Wha...: "The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals 112-103 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The series goes back to Miam..."
For As Good As LeBron's Stat Line Is, It's Not What He Is Suppose To Do!!
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals 112-103 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The series goes back to Miami for the final two games, with Dallas only needing to win one of those games to win the NBA Championship. It won't be an easy task, but it's very doable as Dallas has been an excellent road team this postseason. And if Dallas happens to take care of business in Game 6 on Sunday night, just remember who predicted that outcome (two thumbs pointing at this blogger, and called all the correct games). But for as exciting as tonight's win was for the Dallas Mavericks, putting them one win away from the NBA Championship, that is not what people will be talking about tomorrow. And that is not what I want to write about.
I'm hear to join the others in attending the magic show, featuring the disappearing act of LeBron James (LBJ for the rest of this blog) from the 4th quarter and crunch time. This is the second straight game that LBJ has, for some reason, disappeared on the court in the 4th quarter and crunch time. Everyone recalls his disappearing act in Game 4, when LBJ was no where to be found on the court. He was eventually scene roaming the three-point line, most of the time on the opposite side of the court from where the ball was. He took a passive approach, deferring to D-Wade to make all of the important calls and plays. It was much of the same in tonight's game, as LBJ only had 2 points in the 4th quarter, and the ball not in his hands during crunch time. D-Wade, injured hip and all, once again was called upon to have the ball in his hands and relay the troops for one last effort at a win, but would ultimately come up short. And while I don't want to take any credit away from the Dallas defense, LBJ needs to be more involved and take over the game like he is suppose too.
It reminds me of the movie Top Gun. Near the end of the movie, in the pivotal screen where Maverick is in a dog fight and for some reason disengages and Merlin has to constantly yell and plead with him from the rear to get back in the fight; all the while Maverick is mediating, trying to channel Goose for his guidance from beyond. For the Miami Heat, D-Wade is Merlin; yelling and pleading with LBJ (Maverick) to get back into the fight. But unlike in Top Gun where Maverick would eventually get back into the fight and lead the charge to victory, LBJ doesn't seem to want to re-engage and take the lead in the dog fight; and it's costing his team a chance at victory.
There is no denying that in Game 4, LBJ definitely seemed out of sorts. Overall, he had only 8 points total in the game, with half of those points coming from the free throw line. In tonight's game, LBJ had a more impressive stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assist, a triple-double. However, he only scored 2 points in the 4th quarter, and for as good as his overall stat line may look, that is not what he was brought to Miami to do. That's not the stat line I want to see out of LBJ. If I'm head coach Erik Spolestra, I don't need LBJ getting me 10 rebounds and 10 assists. I need him putting the ball in the hoop and getting me 25+ points, with some of those points coming in crunch time. LBJ was signed and brought into Miami, for the most part, to be that closer, that assassin, that Mariano Riveria at the end of games. No one will publicly admit it as too not offend D-Wade, but that is why he was signed I believe. LBJ needs to be that closer for the sake of his legacy. If we are going to start the comparisons of LBJ to the likes of Jordan and Kobe, than he needs to have that mentality. If he is not showing it now, when will he ever?
Much was made when he first signed with the Heat about who would be the one to close out a game: LBJ or D-Wade. He left Cleveland because he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players. Everyone assumed that was because he was getting tired of having to shoulder all of the pressure and brunt all the attention during the game, but still wanting to be the man with the ball at the end. But in watching LBJ shrink in the 4th quarter and crunch time these past two games, it seems to me that the only reason why he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players was so that he could pass off the pressure and crunch time situations onto someone else. That's not what I want in my closer.
Game 5 was a defining game for LBJ. He even said it himself prior to the game, tweeting out "Now or Never" and even calling Game 5, "The Most Important Game Of My Career." And while in the box score it will appear that he did his part in gathering a triple-double, for as good as LBJ's stat line is, it's not what he is suppose to do.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
I'm hear to join the others in attending the magic show, featuring the disappearing act of LeBron James (LBJ for the rest of this blog) from the 4th quarter and crunch time. This is the second straight game that LBJ has, for some reason, disappeared on the court in the 4th quarter and crunch time. Everyone recalls his disappearing act in Game 4, when LBJ was no where to be found on the court. He was eventually scene roaming the three-point line, most of the time on the opposite side of the court from where the ball was. He took a passive approach, deferring to D-Wade to make all of the important calls and plays. It was much of the same in tonight's game, as LBJ only had 2 points in the 4th quarter, and the ball not in his hands during crunch time. D-Wade, injured hip and all, once again was called upon to have the ball in his hands and relay the troops for one last effort at a win, but would ultimately come up short. And while I don't want to take any credit away from the Dallas defense, LBJ needs to be more involved and take over the game like he is suppose too.
It reminds me of the movie Top Gun. Near the end of the movie, in the pivotal screen where Maverick is in a dog fight and for some reason disengages and Merlin has to constantly yell and plead with him from the rear to get back in the fight; all the while Maverick is mediating, trying to channel Goose for his guidance from beyond. For the Miami Heat, D-Wade is Merlin; yelling and pleading with LBJ (Maverick) to get back into the fight. But unlike in Top Gun where Maverick would eventually get back into the fight and lead the charge to victory, LBJ doesn't seem to want to re-engage and take the lead in the dog fight; and it's costing his team a chance at victory.
There is no denying that in Game 4, LBJ definitely seemed out of sorts. Overall, he had only 8 points total in the game, with half of those points coming from the free throw line. In tonight's game, LBJ had a more impressive stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assist, a triple-double. However, he only scored 2 points in the 4th quarter, and for as good as his overall stat line may look, that is not what he was brought to Miami to do. That's not the stat line I want to see out of LBJ. If I'm head coach Erik Spolestra, I don't need LBJ getting me 10 rebounds and 10 assists. I need him putting the ball in the hoop and getting me 25+ points, with some of those points coming in crunch time. LBJ was signed and brought into Miami, for the most part, to be that closer, that assassin, that Mariano Riveria at the end of games. No one will publicly admit it as too not offend D-Wade, but that is why he was signed I believe. LBJ needs to be that closer for the sake of his legacy. If we are going to start the comparisons of LBJ to the likes of Jordan and Kobe, than he needs to have that mentality. If he is not showing it now, when will he ever?
Much was made when he first signed with the Heat about who would be the one to close out a game: LBJ or D-Wade. He left Cleveland because he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players. Everyone assumed that was because he was getting tired of having to shoulder all of the pressure and brunt all the attention during the game, but still wanting to be the man with the ball at the end. But in watching LBJ shrink in the 4th quarter and crunch time these past two games, it seems to me that the only reason why he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players was so that he could pass off the pressure and crunch time situations onto someone else. That's not what I want in my closer.
Game 5 was a defining game for LBJ. He even said it himself prior to the game, tweeting out "Now or Never" and even calling Game 5, "The Most Important Game Of My Career." And while in the box score it will appear that he did his part in gathering a triple-double, for as good as LBJ's stat line is, it's not what he is suppose to do.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Mr. Armchair Speaks: Someone Owes Me $50 Bucks!!!! And The Juice Is Ru...
Mr. Armchair Speaks: Someone Owes Me $50 Bucks!!!! And The Juice Is Ru...: "News broke yesterday that the BSC is going to strip USC of its 2004 National Championship. It was a final sanction on USC after years of i..."
Someone Owes Me $50 Bucks!!!! And The Juice Is Running!!!
News broke yesterday that the BSC is going to strip USC of its 2004 National Championship. It was a final sanction on USC after years of investigation and exploration into their athletics programs. It was discovered that Reggie Bush, a member of the 2004 National Championship team, had received improper benefits prior to and during the season, thereby making him ineligible for the season. A key player for the Trojans that year, he was instrumental in several key victories (one of those victories came against the Cal Bears; stealing their berth to the Rose Bowl) that led them to the National Championship game. All is now for not.
A great friend reminded me that both he and I had lost parlay bets on that National Championship game. While in South Lake Tahoe at the time, we both had placed bets on USC to win and giving up points, but through bad advice from a partial friend (a Trojan honk), he advised us to take the under on the total score, as he was attempting to be objective and thought the defenses for both teams would keep the game close and the score low. Being young, naïve sports betters that we were at the time and not trusting our gut, we took his advice. Sadly, the under was broken midway through the second quarter. My $50 two-pick parlay was ripped to shreds and left on the sportsbook floor of Caesars Palace, now known as the Monte Bleu Casino. Little did we know, that 7 years later, that game would now never exist; at least in the records books. So now that USC was playing with an ineligible player, cheated that entire season, cheated the Ca Bears from a Rose Bowl Berth (I mean, Aaron Rodgers had 23 straight completions in the lost to USC that year!! Epic game!!) and now has to vacate their National Championship title, banner, and trophy; I’m coming for my $50 bucks. Someone owes me $50 bucks!!! Whether it’s USC, Caesars Palace, Reggie Bush, Pete Carroll, the NCAA; someone needs to pony up!!! And the juice is running!!!
The judgment coming down from the BCS only leads me to believe that the NCAA is going to start cracking down hard on programs that violate their rules. This is a prime opportunity for the NCAA to make examples out of USC, and now, THE Ohio State; programs that both committed major rules violations. For a long time, the NCAA has been walked on and laughed at by programs for years. Programs and Institutions have committed major rules violations against the NCAA and have gotten away with it without being heavily disciplined. That culture will soon be changing. If anything, the USC judgment handed down yesterday should be a signal to THE Ohio State University of what’s too come. If USC can lose a National Championship for paying one players’ parents mortgage, then what’s coming to THE Ohio State? I mean, we are talking about possibly vacating years of wins for THE Ohio State. We have Fiesta Bowls, Rose Bowls, a Heisman winner, and one National Championship. Maybe Miami finally gets their vengeance for the phantom pass interference call? We will eventually find out after the NCAA finished their investigation into the program. But one can only imagine what that punishment will be.
In my opinion, stripping a school of their National Championship, Bowl victories, or regular season wins, is a meaningless punishment that is more for show than anything. People will still remember and recognize USC as being the National Champions that year, whether they have a trophy or banner at their school. The NCAA isn’t going to go "Men In Black" on everyone and erase their memory of that year. A perfect example is the University of Michigan and the Fab Five. They made Michigan take down their Final Four banners from the Fab Five years and erased all their stats and records from those two years. According to the record books, the Fab Five never existed. Yet many people still glorify them and recognize their accomplishments. Good going NCAA!!! If anything, you are drawing more attention to the fact and making more people remember who they were (I shouldn't talk too down on the Fab Five, as I am one of those admirers).
What really hurt Michigan after the fallout from the NCAA's long investigation into their basketball program, was the loss of scholarships. This is what set that program back many years, as they are just now starting to come back from it. And that is what needs to happen to programs like USC and THE Ohio State. There needs to be major scholarship reductions that will have lasting effects on these programs that commit the level of rule violations that USC and THE Ohio State did. Also, major cash penalties need to be handed down as well. USC and THE Ohio State made boatloads of money off of the years in which they committed their violations, and they should have to surrender or repay those funds, starting with paying me my $50 bucks back!!!
A great friend reminded me that both he and I had lost parlay bets on that National Championship game. While in South Lake Tahoe at the time, we both had placed bets on USC to win and giving up points, but through bad advice from a partial friend (a Trojan honk), he advised us to take the under on the total score, as he was attempting to be objective and thought the defenses for both teams would keep the game close and the score low. Being young, naïve sports betters that we were at the time and not trusting our gut, we took his advice. Sadly, the under was broken midway through the second quarter. My $50 two-pick parlay was ripped to shreds and left on the sportsbook floor of Caesars Palace, now known as the Monte Bleu Casino. Little did we know, that 7 years later, that game would now never exist; at least in the records books. So now that USC was playing with an ineligible player, cheated that entire season, cheated the Ca Bears from a Rose Bowl Berth (I mean, Aaron Rodgers had 23 straight completions in the lost to USC that year!! Epic game!!) and now has to vacate their National Championship title, banner, and trophy; I’m coming for my $50 bucks. Someone owes me $50 bucks!!! Whether it’s USC, Caesars Palace, Reggie Bush, Pete Carroll, the NCAA; someone needs to pony up!!! And the juice is running!!!
The judgment coming down from the BCS only leads me to believe that the NCAA is going to start cracking down hard on programs that violate their rules. This is a prime opportunity for the NCAA to make examples out of USC, and now, THE Ohio State; programs that both committed major rules violations. For a long time, the NCAA has been walked on and laughed at by programs for years. Programs and Institutions have committed major rules violations against the NCAA and have gotten away with it without being heavily disciplined. That culture will soon be changing. If anything, the USC judgment handed down yesterday should be a signal to THE Ohio State University of what’s too come. If USC can lose a National Championship for paying one players’ parents mortgage, then what’s coming to THE Ohio State? I mean, we are talking about possibly vacating years of wins for THE Ohio State. We have Fiesta Bowls, Rose Bowls, a Heisman winner, and one National Championship. Maybe Miami finally gets their vengeance for the phantom pass interference call? We will eventually find out after the NCAA finished their investigation into the program. But one can only imagine what that punishment will be.
In my opinion, stripping a school of their National Championship, Bowl victories, or regular season wins, is a meaningless punishment that is more for show than anything. People will still remember and recognize USC as being the National Champions that year, whether they have a trophy or banner at their school. The NCAA isn’t going to go "Men In Black" on everyone and erase their memory of that year. A perfect example is the University of Michigan and the Fab Five. They made Michigan take down their Final Four banners from the Fab Five years and erased all their stats and records from those two years. According to the record books, the Fab Five never existed. Yet many people still glorify them and recognize their accomplishments. Good going NCAA!!! If anything, you are drawing more attention to the fact and making more people remember who they were (I shouldn't talk too down on the Fab Five, as I am one of those admirers).
What really hurt Michigan after the fallout from the NCAA's long investigation into their basketball program, was the loss of scholarships. This is what set that program back many years, as they are just now starting to come back from it. And that is what needs to happen to programs like USC and THE Ohio State. There needs to be major scholarship reductions that will have lasting effects on these programs that commit the level of rule violations that USC and THE Ohio State did. Also, major cash penalties need to be handed down as well. USC and THE Ohio State made boatloads of money off of the years in which they committed their violations, and they should have to surrender or repay those funds, starting with paying me my $50 bucks back!!!
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Mr. Armchair Speaks: I Might Be In The Minority, But I See Where Brian ...
Mr. Armchair Speaks: I Might Be In The Minority, But I See Where Brian ...: "Now that I’ve had a good week or so too calm down and settle my emotions, I feel comfortable with myself now to finally speak about the Bust..."
I Might Be In The Minority, But I See Where Brian Sabean Was Coming From.
Now that I’ve had a good week or so too calm down and settle my emotions, I feel comfortable with myself now to finally speak about the Buster Posey/Scott Cousins’ collision at home plate, and then I’ll also touch on the comments made by the Giants’ General Manager (GM) Brian Sabean regarding the incident. This may come off as a homerish piece, but why have a blog if you are not going to speak your mind or true feelings. For the most part, I feel I’ve done my best at being objective with my views and look at things from different angles and prospectives. I try to keep my passion for my own teams at a minimum, but every now and then, it’s always good to let people know where your allegiances are. Just because you write about sports (no matter what forum), it doesn’t mean you stop being a fan.
So by now we’ve all seen or heard about the collision at the plate heard around the world. Scott Cousins’ tagging up and barreling down the thirdbase line on a shallow sacrifice fly to right, and then going shoulder to chest with Buster Posey, blowing him up as the throw was coming in, causing his left leg to bend in an awkward position from underneath him; ultimately breaking it and tearing ligaments in his ankles. The one player the Giants couldn’t afford to lose, done for the year. The mere thought of the play replaying through my mind still gives me the chills and shrinks my shoulders. It’s my sports version of the zapruder film (ok, I know, too much too soon – trying to establish the level of passion I have for the Giants and Posey). However, I will agree, the Posey/Cousins play at the plate was clean within the bylaws and rules (written or unwritten, however you see it or interpret it) with baseball. And that is not the problem I have with it.
The problem I have is that I feel the play was beyond unnecessary. Scott Cousins had a path to the plate, and when a path to the plate is there for the runner, it is his obligation to take it and slide into home plate. Players are taught different techniques on how to slide into a base in certain situations and on the play, there was an opportunity for Cousins to attempt a hook slide and tag the back of home plate with his hand, beating the tag from Posey and rendering a safe call from the home plate umpire. Darren Ford of the Giants was in a similar situation the weekend before against the Oakland A’s where he was involved in a bang-bang play at the plate that was probably a closer call than the Posey/Cousins’ play was. Coming around third in an attempt to score the game winning run, right fielder Ryan Sweeney of the A's made a spectacular throw to the plate that was right on target to almost nail Ford. Ford, seeing a path to the plate as Oakland A's catcher Kurt Suzuki was positioned slightly in front of the plate to take the incoming throw, slide into home plate, under the attempted tag, and was called safe. And while Ford suffered a mild sprained ankle on the play, nothing catastrophic occurred, and it was still an exciting play. I understand that Cousins wasn’t trying to maliciously hurt Posey, but the mentality that a baserunner needs to barrel over a defenseless catcher in an attempt to break up a play at the plate needs to change. And that’s what I think Giants GM Brian Sabean was trying to convey with his comments. He was trying to make an example and argument to baseball for a rule change, and maybe even a mentality change. He just went way over the top with it. I might be in the minority, but I see where Brian Sabean was coming from.
Before everyone starts flying off the handle on me and argue about how I could possibly defend Brian Sabean and his comments, I would first like to clarify that while I stand by Brian Sabean and his comments, it is only to a certain degree. I, in no way, condone his remarks regarding Scott Cousins not ever playing again or advocating any violent actions upon him, his friends, or his family. However, I understand and empathize where Brian Sabean was coming from, and to a point, agree and feel the same way. I will first try to clarify what I think Brian Sabean was trying to do with his comments, and the angle from which he was coming from.
I think what he was trying to do is send a strong message to Major League Baseball that not only does the rule allowing a baserunner to cause a collision at home plate in an attempt to dislodge the ball from the catcher needs to change, and it starts with the mentality and teaching of the practice. While Scott Cousins' intentions may not have been malicious, the act and thought process that went through his mind in considering going into home plate the way he did was a malicious act. Scott Cousins has been programmed throughout his years of playing baseball to do what he did at the plate, and that needs to change. And what I think Brian Sabean meant by calling the act pre-meditated, it's because ballplayers are programmed like they are. I have long been an advocate of changing the rule so that neither the catcher is allowed to block the path of the baserunner to home plate, nor is the baserunner allowed to run into the catcher to cause a breakup in the play. It's the simplest and easiest way to fix this problem (see my blog post title: Mission Statement from Commissioner Keller).
I will be honest, a lot of what Brian Sabean said was exactly how I felt the following day after the play. There was nothing more I wanted then to have a Giants' pitcher put one in the ear hole of a Florida Marlins' batter as an act of retaliation. It's commonly known as Baseball Justice, or Baseball players policing themselves, and no one would have thought twice about it if it happened. I'm willing to bet good money that the Florida Marlins' players were probably surprise that it didn't happen. I'm sure down the road, justice will prevail for the Giants in that form. I know that we as Giants fans need to get over our lost and come to the realization that we are going to have to go at the rest of this season alone without our star kid behind the plate, but it doesn't mean that we forget.
I understand the play was unfortunate and a freak accident. And while this is somewhat of a homerish piece, I can honestly say that if this play happened to Eli Whiteside (backup catcher of the Giants) or any other catcher in baseball, I would still feel the same way and still be an advocate for a rule change. Yes, my feelings and passion are magnified a bit because this unfortunately happened to a player and team that I deeply love and root for, but it could happen to any team and player at any time, and it's a worry that a manager or GM shouldn't have. Scott Cousins to his credit did immediately confront Posey after the play and has repeatedly apologized for what happened. But it should be the last time we ever see a play like that happen at the plate again.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mr. Armchair Speaks: So Far, Everything is Going According to My plan -...
Mr. Armchair Speaks: So Far, Everything is Going According to My plan -...: "One word to describe tonight's NBA Finals Game 2 with the Miami Heat v. Dallas Mavericks: EPIC!!!!! A game that was thought to be well in ..."
So Far, Everything is Going According to My plan -- Analysis of Game 2
One word to describe tonight's NBA Finals Game 2 with the Miami Heat v. Dallas Mavericks: EPIC!!!!! A game that was thought to be well in hand for the Miami Heat with a little under 7 minutes to go in the game, the Dallas Mavericks went on a 22-5 run to end the game and take Game 2 95-93, and tie the series at one game a piece. Dirk scored the final 9 points (24 points total) in the epic comeback, ending the game with a drive to the left side of the basket for the winning lay up. Dallas Mavericks take Game 2, just as I had thought.
Going into the series, I stated on the blog (piece title: Rooting for Validation) that I was rooting for the Mavericks to win the series, because I was rooting for the validation of the careers of Dirk and J.Kidd; but I failed to mention how they would do it. When asked this past week for a prediction on the NBA Finals, I said that the Mavericks would need to win the Finals in 6 games (I will clarify for the record that I also said if I had to bet even money on the series, I wouldn't bet much on it and that the Heat would have an edge). However, for Dallas to win in 6, I stated that the Mavericks would need to beat the Heat at least one game in Miami, with the likelihood of that game being Game 2. Then they would need to go on to take 2 of 3 at their place in Dallas, and finally winning Game 6 on the road in Miami, to win the series. Dallas has been a solid road team in these playoffs, and winning Game 6 is a must for them to win the Finals, because if this series goes 7 games, Miami will not lose Game 7, in their house, for the NBA Championship. That is my logic. So far, everything is going according to my plan.
I must admit, I was not in my armchair for this game. I was actually at the gym for the second half of the game. I was fortunate enough to have a TV well in sight while I was pounding out a solid chest workout, so I was able to watch most of the action for the 3rd quarter and the first part of the 4th. This was about the time when Dwayne Wade decided to go beastly on the Mavericks, dropping corner 3's and monster dunks on fools. Little by little the crowds around the TV started to dissipate, expect Mr. Armchair and my man, Dallas Mav, working the front desk. As I'm slamming an after workout protein shake, I'm checking my phone for the stats on the game, and I'm talking with Dallas Mav on how the Mavericks blow a chance to win Game 2. I notice that Dirk at the time only had 15 points in the game and mention that the Mavericks needed more from him. Then, the lead started to dwindle. Marion 2 points here, Kidd makes a three there, Terry mid-range jumper, Dirk, Dirk, and more Dirk. Before we knew it, Mavericks are down only 4 points, and the crowd comes back. Future wife, Mrs. Loveseat, wrapped up her kickboxing class, but I put her on hold. I had a feeling this game was going to be something special.
Game 2 was something special. Not since the Chicago Bulls in the 1992 Finals has a team come back from a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter to win a game. When Dirk made a transition layup to tie the game, I had to tell Mrs. Loveseat to give me a minute, as I watched with great anticipation; and for a brief second, I felt like a fan. Dallas Mav was going crazy as he was checking people into the gym. Then, a great defensive stop by the Mavericks lead to what was thought to be the game clincher; a three from Dirk goes in with 26 second left. But wait, there is more.
After a Miami timeout, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd get crossed up on a screen, and of all people, Mario Chalmers is left open for a deep corner three, and they ACTUALLY PASSED HIM THE BALL!!!!!!!! I turned to Dallas Mav just as Chamlers received the cross-court pass and said, "can't give him that." Sure enough, nothin' but net. Tie ball game at 93 with 24.5 seconds, Mavericks ball. After a timeout, J.Kidd waits with the ball, sets up Dirk for what was thought to be a pick-and-roll, but they leave Dirk one-on-one with Chris Bosh. CHRIS BOSH!!! Somewhere Chad Ochocinco is yelling "CHILD PLEASE!!" Dirk blows by Bosh and makes a lay-up with 3 seconds left and some change. 24 Hour Fitness goes crazy, obviously rooting for the Dallas Mavericks. My man Dallas Mav, starts going crazy from the Dirk shot. Miami inbounds the ball and Wade heaves a halfcourt shot that almost goes in, but hits off the back iron. Dallas Mavericks complete the comeback and take Game 2.
My analysis of the game is this. I'm ok with Wade scoring as many points as he did. Like I told Dallas Mav and like I posted on the blog (piece titled: How to beat the Heat), it's ok to let Wade and LeBron score their points. The gameplan on defense should be to hold Bosh to under 20 points, and keep him and the other players on the Miami Heat to under 35-40 points as a collective whole. Game 2, that total was 37 points. And while Wade had 36 points and LeBron only had 20, you have to figure that that isn't going to happen every game. Wade isn't going to score 36 and LeBron isn't going to be held to 20. But that's ok. If you just hold them to their season averages (Wade 25.5 and LeBron 26.7), you should be able to keep the score low enough to win the game. But Dallas was making it hard on themselves too.
Dallas' point guard play has been terrible. They are insisting on slowing it down and playing a halfcourt game when Kidd and Barea's strengths are getting out in the open floor and running with the ball. When Dallas went on their epic comeback, it was almost through transition points and speeding up the game. They are getting nothing out of JJ Barea off the bench. In Game 2, he played 14 minutes, 5 points, 2-7 shooting, 1 assist, and a +/- of -11. This was not the same player we saw against the Lakers and Thunder. Also, I would like to see better play out of Jason Kidd. I understand he is a true, true point guard, but I would like to see him score a little more than 6 points. While he did grab 8 rebounds, he had only 5 assist and 5 turnovers, 1:1 ratio. That is not the J. Kidd we know. And if Peja isn't going to hit open three's, then he is useless on the court, and coach Carlisle saw this as well, as Peja only played 5 minutes in Game 2.
Game 2 is exactly what this NBA Finals needed. After a lackluster Game 1, everyone started to ride off the Mavericks and proclaim the Miami Heat as the next NBA Champions. But Dallas showed a lot of heart in coming back from that 15-point deficit, and has made this series a whole lot more interesting. The momentum pendulum is now swinging to the Dallas Mavericks. Now just take 2 of 3 in Dallas and make Mr. Armchair look that much more like he knows what he is talking about. We shall see how this series plays out now. More on this to come. Until then.....
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Going into the series, I stated on the blog (piece title: Rooting for Validation) that I was rooting for the Mavericks to win the series, because I was rooting for the validation of the careers of Dirk and J.Kidd; but I failed to mention how they would do it. When asked this past week for a prediction on the NBA Finals, I said that the Mavericks would need to win the Finals in 6 games (I will clarify for the record that I also said if I had to bet even money on the series, I wouldn't bet much on it and that the Heat would have an edge). However, for Dallas to win in 6, I stated that the Mavericks would need to beat the Heat at least one game in Miami, with the likelihood of that game being Game 2. Then they would need to go on to take 2 of 3 at their place in Dallas, and finally winning Game 6 on the road in Miami, to win the series. Dallas has been a solid road team in these playoffs, and winning Game 6 is a must for them to win the Finals, because if this series goes 7 games, Miami will not lose Game 7, in their house, for the NBA Championship. That is my logic. So far, everything is going according to my plan.
I must admit, I was not in my armchair for this game. I was actually at the gym for the second half of the game. I was fortunate enough to have a TV well in sight while I was pounding out a solid chest workout, so I was able to watch most of the action for the 3rd quarter and the first part of the 4th. This was about the time when Dwayne Wade decided to go beastly on the Mavericks, dropping corner 3's and monster dunks on fools. Little by little the crowds around the TV started to dissipate, expect Mr. Armchair and my man, Dallas Mav, working the front desk. As I'm slamming an after workout protein shake, I'm checking my phone for the stats on the game, and I'm talking with Dallas Mav on how the Mavericks blow a chance to win Game 2. I notice that Dirk at the time only had 15 points in the game and mention that the Mavericks needed more from him. Then, the lead started to dwindle. Marion 2 points here, Kidd makes a three there, Terry mid-range jumper, Dirk, Dirk, and more Dirk. Before we knew it, Mavericks are down only 4 points, and the crowd comes back. Future wife, Mrs. Loveseat, wrapped up her kickboxing class, but I put her on hold. I had a feeling this game was going to be something special.
Game 2 was something special. Not since the Chicago Bulls in the 1992 Finals has a team come back from a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter to win a game. When Dirk made a transition layup to tie the game, I had to tell Mrs. Loveseat to give me a minute, as I watched with great anticipation; and for a brief second, I felt like a fan. Dallas Mav was going crazy as he was checking people into the gym. Then, a great defensive stop by the Mavericks lead to what was thought to be the game clincher; a three from Dirk goes in with 26 second left. But wait, there is more.
After a Miami timeout, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd get crossed up on a screen, and of all people, Mario Chalmers is left open for a deep corner three, and they ACTUALLY PASSED HIM THE BALL!!!!!!!! I turned to Dallas Mav just as Chamlers received the cross-court pass and said, "can't give him that." Sure enough, nothin' but net. Tie ball game at 93 with 24.5 seconds, Mavericks ball. After a timeout, J.Kidd waits with the ball, sets up Dirk for what was thought to be a pick-and-roll, but they leave Dirk one-on-one with Chris Bosh. CHRIS BOSH!!! Somewhere Chad Ochocinco is yelling "CHILD PLEASE!!" Dirk blows by Bosh and makes a lay-up with 3 seconds left and some change. 24 Hour Fitness goes crazy, obviously rooting for the Dallas Mavericks. My man Dallas Mav, starts going crazy from the Dirk shot. Miami inbounds the ball and Wade heaves a halfcourt shot that almost goes in, but hits off the back iron. Dallas Mavericks complete the comeback and take Game 2.
My analysis of the game is this. I'm ok with Wade scoring as many points as he did. Like I told Dallas Mav and like I posted on the blog (piece titled: How to beat the Heat), it's ok to let Wade and LeBron score their points. The gameplan on defense should be to hold Bosh to under 20 points, and keep him and the other players on the Miami Heat to under 35-40 points as a collective whole. Game 2, that total was 37 points. And while Wade had 36 points and LeBron only had 20, you have to figure that that isn't going to happen every game. Wade isn't going to score 36 and LeBron isn't going to be held to 20. But that's ok. If you just hold them to their season averages (Wade 25.5 and LeBron 26.7), you should be able to keep the score low enough to win the game. But Dallas was making it hard on themselves too.
Dallas' point guard play has been terrible. They are insisting on slowing it down and playing a halfcourt game when Kidd and Barea's strengths are getting out in the open floor and running with the ball. When Dallas went on their epic comeback, it was almost through transition points and speeding up the game. They are getting nothing out of JJ Barea off the bench. In Game 2, he played 14 minutes, 5 points, 2-7 shooting, 1 assist, and a +/- of -11. This was not the same player we saw against the Lakers and Thunder. Also, I would like to see better play out of Jason Kidd. I understand he is a true, true point guard, but I would like to see him score a little more than 6 points. While he did grab 8 rebounds, he had only 5 assist and 5 turnovers, 1:1 ratio. That is not the J. Kidd we know. And if Peja isn't going to hit open three's, then he is useless on the court, and coach Carlisle saw this as well, as Peja only played 5 minutes in Game 2.
Game 2 is exactly what this NBA Finals needed. After a lackluster Game 1, everyone started to ride off the Mavericks and proclaim the Miami Heat as the next NBA Champions. But Dallas showed a lot of heart in coming back from that 15-point deficit, and has made this series a whole lot more interesting. The momentum pendulum is now swinging to the Dallas Mavericks. Now just take 2 of 3 in Dallas and make Mr. Armchair look that much more like he knows what he is talking about. We shall see how this series plays out now. More on this to come. Until then.....
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Mr. Armchair Speaks: I hate to say it, but I’m going to miss him
Mr. Armchair Speaks: I hate to say it, but I’m going to miss him: "I knew it was coming, but didn't expect it today. I couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic, as at one point in my childhood, I actually ..."
I hate to say it, but I’m going to miss him
I knew it was coming, but didn't expect it today. I couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic, as at one point in my childhood, I actually thought of this player as a favorite. I wrote him a letter, bought his book, and collected his basketball cards. I would even go as far as to say that he was the one who really got me into NBA basketball. He did for me what Tiger Woods did for a lot of amateur golfers, brought me into the game. Of course there was MJ and others, but this player really captured basketball for me. And of course, I can't help but laugh at all of his antics.
Today, Shaquille O’Neal - The Big Aristotle, Shaq Fu, The Diesel, The Big Daddy, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Shamrock, The Big Leprechaun, is calling it quits and finally retiring from NBA basketball. Most Kings' fans are probably rejoicing about this news, as Shaquille has always been a thorn in our side, helping to steal an NBA championship away from us (with a little help from the NBA and the refs). Referring to us as the “Sacramento Queens,” Shaq was our arch rival; provoking the Sacramento Kings' fans to curse his name and ring our cow bells loud and proud. But there is no denying the dominance of Shaq. He will undoubted go down as one of the greatest centers to ever play. Shaq leaves this game with career numbers of 23.7 points per games, 10.9 rebounds, 15 All-Star game appearances, a ROY award, and one MVP award. He is the NBA’s 5th all-time leading scorer, 4-time NBA Champion, and the greatest personality off the court we’ve ever seen. Definitely distinguishing himself amongst the NBA’s all time greats.
Shaq was most definitely an anomaly when he entered the league. Standing over 7 feet tall and over 300 pounds, the NBA hadn’t seen a player this big in stature probably since Wilt Chamberlain entered the league. In many ways, watching Shaq and his dominance over other NBA centers must have been similar to what fans witnessed when Chamberlain was playing against the smaller NBA centers back in the day. Shaq was a physical beast; mowing down anything that got in his way. Even the baskets themselves couldn’t withstand the force of nature Shaq brought onto them (although after reading his autobiography, I found out that the basket he tore down in Phoenix against the Suns was actually rigged to fall when he dunked). He was a presence on and off the court and it’s going to feel a little different next season not having him in the NBA anymore.
So where do we place Shaq amongst NBA folklore? In my eyes, and I'm trying to stay objective here because there is still some hatred built inside from his Lakers days, but Shaq has to be a top 5 center of all-time, and a top 10 player of all-time. I heard an interview today with Mike Wise, author of Shaq's autobiography, say that Shaq should be considered a top 3 center of all-time, with only Kareem and Bill Russell ahead of him, and Chamberlain as number 4. The more I started thinking about it, the more I thought he was right. Kareem will always have the numbers and Russell will always have the rings, but something is different regarding Chamberlain. Chamberlain to me is that kid in elementary school who got held back a year but was still allowed to play despite his age and size. That's what it must have felt like for Chamberlain to go up against the competition during his time. Shaq was dominate against players his own size and therefore, I may give the edge to Shaq on this one.
Much gets lost in the basketball game of Shaquille O'Neal. Everyone will forever remember him for his monstrous drunks and poor free throw shooting, but many forget that Shaquille was an above average defender, having finished 3 different times on the NBA All-Defensive Team, and averaging 2.3 blocks per game for his career, 7th all-time overall. He also was a rebounding machine, averaging 10.9 per game for his career, and finishing 12th all-time overall. He had a smooth offensive game, developing a consistent soft jump hook from the pant, and having a nice touch around the basket. And for everything humorous said about his free throw shooting, Shaq always said, "I make them when it counts." Kings' fans can contest to this, as in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, Shaq went 11-15 from the free throw stripe.
Shaq is the first hall of fame player from our generation to retire from the game, where we can actually say we got to see every game, every basket, every dunk. When our kids ask us about Shaq, we can honestly say that we saw him play the entire length of his long, 19 season, NBA career. We saw him come into the league as a raw talent, develop into a hall of fame great, and leave the game 2 years too late. I hate to say it, but I'm going to miss him. I think ESPN said it best in their headliner, and it's the perfect final nickname for him: The Big Finish.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
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