THE LEAGUE^©

Hey MeanD, hope all is well with you & yours.

Even though you may be right, gotta throw out my own.

ShooterB predicts:
1) With or without the Booze hound, Utah will move all the way from 8th in the West to a #4 seed by the time the playoffs arrive.

2) Steve Kerr will decide that the missing ingredient is himself, and he’ll suit up to replace Jason Richardson on the Suns’ roster.

3) The world will finally realize that Paul Pierce is a fraud, and the only thing that separates him from other NBA players is his ability to flop.

4) When the post-season is finished, I personally will still have won as many NBA Playoff series as Tracy McGrady.

Left by ShooterB on February 20th, 2009

That’s all it is, I just don’t care for Pierce. Which is odd, because he was one of my faves when he was at Kansas.

It’s just pet peeve territory…nothing more.

I didn’t care for the drama-queen routine of being carried off the court, only to return to the game later.

I thought he got a little whiny during the losing years, and is now receiving more credit than he’s due because of the All-Star squad they assembled in Boston.

I think he gets too much credit for “taking over” in the 4th quarter…all I see is him taking more jumpshots and refusing to pass to wide-open teammates.

And I absolutely can’t stand when he uses the pump-fake only to launch himself into the defender…but still draws the foul call the majority of the time. To me, that is consistently one of the worst calls in the game. Though I can’t completely fault him for taking advantage.

He’s a great player. I just figure that since he gets so much credit from everyone else, that he doesn’t need any from me. That’s my job, keeping things balanced.

Left by ShooterB on February 20th, 2009

Hey Mean,

Looks like now, except for the Lakers, the west is WIDE open – Ginobili’s out, and I think it’s worse than they’re letting on, McGrady’s done, Oden’s hurt again, Boozer’s iffy, etc. We Suns fan were permitted a ray of hope for a couple days, then wham, Amare’s out until the playoffs if they make it. (Insert famous Jim Mora rant here . . . ).

You know I’m a big Matrix guy, so here’s my two cents. Props for calling the trade a couple weeks early, by the way. The Heat had an outside chance to go deep in the playoffs before, but not now. Like the Suns, the Heat will learn the hard way just how much Marion does that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. Although Wade is back to his top-tier status, and can carry them to wins they have no business getting. (He’s my early sleeper for LOTL). As for the Raptors, if B Colangelo can find a way to get Marion a new deal, it would be a HUGE plus for them. Bargnani and Bosh would benefit greatly and be freed up to do a lot of things with Marion doing the dirty work on the glass and playing some tough D. That has the potential to be a hell of a front line, when you think about it. Marion leaving Phoenix may actually prolong his effectiveness a couple years, with less of a running style. Him staying on Toronto probably won’t happen though, although they have the inside track with BC there running things now.

I picked the Cavs to win it all. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I think this is the year they break through. I do love the Magic’s acquistion of Alston also. As you know, I was big on his rising game last year. Don’t know if he can give them what Nelson did, but I think he take his game up yet another notch playing with Howard. And they’ve got a couple months for him to fit in.

BTW, Shooter feels about Pierce like I do about Nowitzki. The guy gets more phantom calls than anyone around today. And I’ll second the “Go Utah!” chant. Sorry to hear about Larry Miller’s passing. From everything I’ve heard, he was a pretty good guy.

Left by Rick O on February 20th, 2009

The next great – I mean truly great – player in The League is Kevin Durant. I suppose his detractors could say he shoots too much, but he has the demeanor that will allow his entire game to improve as they add players around him and add some pieces. Has there a better young guy to build around in recent memory?

Damn, this is fun. I need to get back into NBA blogdom.

Left by Rick O on February 20th, 2009

Hmm. I guess we’ll see. Good chatting with you as well. We have to do more of it.

Left by Rick O on February 20th, 2009

MEAN what’s happening my man? Hope all is well with you and the fam. Welcome back, is this a cameo?

It’s looking good for the Lakers but i dont think they’re invincible like alot of people are crowning them already.

I still think Cleveland can and will get alot better, and that’s something to take seriously…

I didn’t like the Celtics even before the season started as i felt like they would expend too much energy during the regular season taking teams best shots and trying to prove themselves again. Looks like i was right…

Skip to Orlando is a pretty big deal, especially if he tones his game down and plays a classic PG role.

And you can never count out my main man Manu with big Timmay and the ghost of Horry. It’s a odd year so it’s their turn again right?

Holla!

Left by RIDGE on February 21st, 2009

Oh yeah i also agree with Utah(RIP)and Durant is already an ELITE player just like i said he would be before last season. Playing the devil’s advocate, the way he scores just IMAGINE if portland paired him with brandon roy? That could’ve been the evolution of Jordan/Pippen…

Left by RIDGE on February 21st, 2009

Mean Dovine
It just goes to show how things can take an unprecedented turn of events in but a brief moment. KG looks as if he’ll be out for at least 2-3 weeks. Amar’e looks as if may well be lost for the remainder of the season for the Suns.

tophatal …………….

Left by tophatal on February 21st, 2009

Hey Meanie,

I see the Boys are Back in Town (smile). It’s great to see you and the rest of the fellas. I’ve missed all of you. I figured you guys needed some perfume to freshen up the joint.

So, you think the self name Black Mamba (HA!) is gonna take all the marbles this year eh? I sure as hell hope he doesn’t. The Lakers still don’t impress me. I guess I’m a die hard Laker hater to the core. I like your prediction about Bron Bron. They would love to have him on the big stage.

I see you think that San Antonio has run outta gas. You never know, they could be the dark horse. You know Duncan and the gang love them some playoffs.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Dueces.

Left by Miz. B. Haven on February 22nd, 2009

Hey Miz B – Good to see you stopping by. Thanks a million. Our perfume is a bit stale. If you could lend us a squirt of yours, that would be great.

Anyway, I’m with you on the Lakers. Enough said there. I guess I’ll let Mean expound on that. (Between you and me – - – ain’t happenin’). Those Laker fans who think Bynum is the answer never cease to amaze me. He’s not Wilt nor Kareem, and if it’s left up to Kobe . . . well, I guess we’ll get there when we get there.

As far as the Spurs go, it’s possible. And if they win the title, Duncan’s going to retire. You heard it here first.

Left by Rick O on February 22nd, 2009

Hey Ricko,

I’ll lend you guys my perfume anytime (smile).

Bynum aint the answer (and neither is Gasol). He is further proof of my theory of how most of the high school players (except for Kobe and Bron Bron) don’t fair to well physically in the NBA, i.e., Bynum, Tyson Chandler, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracy McGrady, Darius Miles, and the list goes on. By them skipping college and heading straight to the NBA, their bodies aren’t able to handle the rigors of professional ball. College is so important in the conditioning and development of professional athletes.

I don’t get all the hoopla about the Lakers. I think they serendipitously got to the Finals last year, especially with all the drama they had early in the season.

If the Spurs do pull it off, Duncan should retire going out on top. I’ve always said regarding the Spurs, never underestimate the heart of a champion. They’ve been to the mountaintop too many times to just lay down and go away.

There’s no clear cut winner of the O’Brien trophy to me this season. It’s any team’s for the taking in my opinion, but what do I know, right? I’m just a L.A.D.I. (smile)

Left by Miz. B. Haven on February 23rd, 2009

Well that’s nice of you, Miz B. Making your perfume available, that is. Smells like a locker room in here. (Not that that’s all bad either. I saw “Porky’s” . . . )

Gasol is very effective is all he’s asked to be is what he is – a Dirk Nowitzki, Mehmet Okur type. As a consistent inside presence? No. As for Bynum, jury’s still out, and when you go deep in the playoffs, I don’t think he can be the main guy, unless that guy is as talented as Kareem or Olajuwon was at that age, and as we all know with the current dearth of good young big, that ain’t happening anytime soon. Problem is, no center in college has much of an inside game anymore. They’ve never had to develop one. Think Greg Oden would been thought of the same way having come through the ranks with Ewing, Brad Daugherty, and Olajuwon in the early ’80s?

Anyway, we agree on your assessment of players, especially big men, not being ready without paying their dues.

Left by Rick O on February 24th, 2009

Mean Dovine
The Suns are a complete mess and Sarver and Kerr are to blame for much of the malaise. Colangelo left the franchise with things in tact. And these two bumbling oafs have laid waste to it like the Taliban in Afghanistan.

I’m now dropping stuff on college ball within collegefanz.com.

tophatal …………

Left by tophatal on February 26th, 2009

( steaming . . . )

Hey Mean, both you and I know that with Gentry running the show, there’s no telling what the Suns could have done had Amare not gone down.

(Deep breath . . .)

Yes, he likes D’Antoni’s style, but there are a couple caviats. First, he went deeper in the bench right from the get-go, which is a HUGE plus, and the one thing that kept D’Antoni from winning it all. Secondly, he did stress more D than D’Antoni ever did. And you have to admit, they were rolling out of the gate with him at the helm, Clippers be damned. Has Shaq ever been more hungry that he was after the coaching change? Considering it came immediately after the All-Star break, in Phoenix, where he spent some time with Kobe and Phil, I doubt it. For all that was written and said about Amare needing to be moved – some of it by yours truly before the coaching change – I speak for Suns fans across the country when I say that I would have loved to see what they could have done the rest of the year. And I disagree, they may have gone somewhere this year. They didn’t need to be a 3-5 seed, just a six. At seven or eight, they would probably meet the Lakers or the Spurs. Other than LA, who would you be afraid of as a Suns fan? Even with the Nuggets in the first round – with Amare, keep in mind – would they scare you as a Suns fan? I doubt it.

Left by Rick O on February 26th, 2009

Hmm. I see the Lakers have no answer for Shaq. Interesting . . .

‘Course Kobe will probably go for 40, but that’s nothing new. I think they’re about .500 when he does.

Left by Rick O on February 26th, 2009

Just givin’ ya a hard time. Had to stick up for my team. Not too sure why, though.

Wait ’til next year . . . (Geez, I’m starting to sound like a Cub fan!)

Left by Rick O on February 27th, 2009

Whateva Mean. If memory serves me correctly, your Big Board and I had the same record last year (or I may have missed one, but that’s besides the point). I outcalled all of you fellas. So, sit back and let the little lady teach you a few things son (smile).

Left by Miz. B. Haven on February 27th, 2009

Actually, the Cavs had a proposition to grab Shaq. The Suns declined. The prospect of the Shaq in the middle for them must have made their fans and LeBron and company drool, now that Shaq’s game has been reborn thanks to the Suns’ training staff.

Porter was a bad hire. Nothing against him, but it was a bad situation from the start. As I said after last season, the Suns had two options; take another run with their current core and hire a veteran coach, a la Paul Silas, who would have been my guy – or trade Nash while he still has some worth, make a few other moves, rebuild, and hire a coach for a 3-4 year project, a la Terry Porter. The Suns tried to straddle the fence between the two, which didn’t work. (Gee, didn’t see that coming).

Left by Rick O on February 27th, 2009

Mean Dovine
That’s the lack of overall insight that Kerr brings to the game. Hellen Keller would have more insight than Kerr could or would ever imagine. And that’d include Annie Sullivan giving her an assist.

Left by tophatal on February 27th, 2009

Yeah, good game by Shaq. Maybe Amare’s absence will cause him to flourish like it did for Boris Diaw a few years ago.

Word is the Cavaliers were looking move Ben Wallace and Szerbiak (sp?) for Shaq. Cleveland hoped that there would be enough salary dump/relief to entice the Suns into the deal. I don’t think Phoenix considered it too seriously.

I would almost guarantee that Stoudemire won’t be in a Suns uniform next year. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. There’s no certainty that he won’t return this season, or in the (Cue the Jim Mora rant yet again . . .) playoffs if they sneak in. If Richardson can limit his explosive driving to the basketball court, that would make a huge difference. I do like the fact that under Gentry, Suns fans are seeing more bench play than we’ve seen in years.

Left by Rick O on February 28th, 2009

Bro, what is up?

The consensus is that those 4 teams you mentioned at the top will contend for the title. I cannot see another team stepping up in the spring to do it. One of them will win, with the Spurs being a huge longshot.

All the best…TD

Left by thedan on March 1st, 2009

Bro thanks for the love. Thought I’d check in to see if you had something up. I know Ricko has done a tremendous job with his contributions. Things have been extremely busy for me over the last 4.5 months. Started a new morning show producer gig which gets me up at midnight PST (3am EST). That said, my sports viewing has been skewed recently which sucks.

Glad to hear things are good with you and the family. Take care.

Left by thedan on March 3rd, 2009