Spectral Observations

First things first, I’m so tired of stupid commentators and/or announcers. It’s seriously getting to the point where I often find myself muting the games. This isn’t just with the 2009 NBA Playoffs, but all sports as of late, even/especially tennis too. At any rate, that’s the subject for another blog. Let’s talk basketball.

Western Conference: Biggest news this week is that Yao Ming is having troubles with his left foot again, and will miss the remainder of the post season. You’d think this would be a good thing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but after yesterday’s game, apparently not! Phil Jackson said he wasn’t embarrassed and that people should give the Rockets some credit for coming up with a way to win the game, and that Aaron Brooks was sensational. FALSE. Jesus man, just say something that the rest of us who have been watching the Lakers all season long have noticed. YOUR DEFENSE IS PATHETIC. YOU WON’T BEAT LEBRON AND THE CAVS UNLESS YOU COMMIT TO DEFENSE. I’m honestly scared. The Lakers are superior in talent to ANY team in the NBA. Yes, that’s correct. If you disagree, well, you’re wrong! They have more depth and talent than any other team in the league, even over a healthy ball club from Boston (aka pretending Garnett is 100%). It is not uncommon for the Lakers to put in their entire secondary squad and make up points in a game even when facing the oppositions first string. However, this season has reminded me of a Laker team of the past. It wasn’t too long ago we saw Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom all on the same team. It was the same team we saw the Detroit Pistons make a mockery out of in the NBA finals after the Lakers semi-struggled to get there. How did this happen? Defense……DEFENSE. It wasn’t until the last 8 minues of yesterday’s game the Lakers actually played something that closely resembles acceptable defense. That is, they would play defense all the way up until someone on the Rockets would pull up for a shot, but then forget about it. I’ve never seen so many guys retreat for cherry picking buckets and not crash the boards. Why? I have no idea. The Lakers DON’T need to run a fast paced game to win. They have the unparelleled triangle half-court offense which they can run out of three different guys and beat anyone. Instead, they push the ball, only to settle for some 18 footer that only Kobe should be taking, not guys like Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic. Are the Lakers going to get to the finals? Yes. All these people harping the Rockets have a legitmate shot are living in a dream world, but reality is, this series should have been 4-0. The Lakers are that much better.

The Mavericks undoubtedly got screwed by the referees in game 3 of their set with the Nuggets. ESPN analysts are harping on how the foul should have been harder or more blatant, or that head coach Rick Carlisle should have told the refs he intends to use an intentional foul and to be on the look out for it. Ya, good idea…..Let’s have George Karl look at me walking over to have a discussion with the refs. Hmmmm….Whatever could he be talking about!? Not using their last team foul to give is it!? Unreal this is even suggested. Bottom line, the refs stole a HUGE game for the Mavs, and because of that, you can stick a fork in them, they’re done. The Nuggest have played exceptionally well all series long, I’m not trying to take anything from them, but this serious should be 2-1 and not 3-0. Dallas should have had a shot to even the series at home. It’s going to be really interesting to see how they react when game 4 rolls around.

Eastern Conference: Not much to discuss here. LeBron James, the man-child, is dominating. The Atlanta Hawks are proving last year was fluke, and that unless they can knock down 39%+ of their three point field goals, they are a joke of a team. I’m extremely disappointed in Superman Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Can Van Gundy get fired please? (actually, let’s fire them both so I don’t have to listen to his annoying brother commentate) I’m sick and tired of this highly talented squad losing. Some nights they play better than any team in the league. They have all the tools of a championship caliber team. Solid D, inside and outside offense, and the ability to score a lot of points in a relatively small window of time. How is it then they keep letting some slouch named Big Baby keep dropping 20+ points on them a game? Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are good, but they’re not Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, or LeBron James. Stop double teaming these guys, and play them like you would play Bryant/Wade/James. Play smash mouth, in your face defense, and keep them away from the rim and foul line. Yes, they will knock down some ridiculous jumpers in your face and make you wonder why you just hustled your ass off only to look silly, but you won’t open up the lane for inferior players to get easy lay ins time and time again. You will also reduce the offensive boards from guys like Davis. Doesn’t really matter at this point, the Cleveland LeBrons are going to the finals, and have a legitimate shot to win it. Boston has one thing going for them this post season, the clutchness. How many buzzer beaters are we going to see these guys drop? If Garnett comes back, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Celtics can upset the LeBrons. Especially since we all know they’d be getting a little extra help from the zebras.