5lbs of NBA Playoff Goodness (With a Few Sides)

As was so keenly pointed out by the Des Moines Register’s Sean Keeler, I’m not keeping up. I sound like a broke record. Anyway. Here’s what’s going on:

1.The WebMaster reached number 20. It seems this blog has become more devoted to his gastronomical feats than sports. In fear of running out of adjectives, that’s all I’ll say about that.

2. Former Drake football player Allen Ussin got his name on the board. Days before departing for a new job in Texas, Ussin labored through all five-pounds of meat and gets a well-deserved photo on the blog. Best of luck Al.

3. This weekend is the Principal Charity Classic. Look for myself, Brent Heemskerk, Luke “The Landlord” Frieberg, and the rest of the LDR’s as hosts around the 17^th and 18^th greens. The PCC promises to be a great time.

4. I am not looking forward to the NBA Finals. In fact, I will shun the NBA Playoffs like Dwight Schrute shunned Andy Bernard in The Office. I won’t even write about them. I won’t do it.

Ok, maybe because its necessary.

(Un-shun)

NBA Playoffs, I am disappointed in you. What began with such promise has produced nothing but series after series of disappointment.

In the Eastern Conference’s round 1 we saw two five-game series and a sweep. The only savior was an exciting seven-gamer between the Bucks and Atlanta. More than a good series, it was just a chance to root for an underdog.

Come on. There is no way an undermanned team like Milwaukee, void of its two best players, could defeat a vastly talented Atlanta Hawks squad. Not if both teams played hard anyway.

So why did it go seven games? You tell me, was it

a) Fear the Deer is such an amazing phenomena it could not be denied

b) the Hawks players wanted to remind us that NBA players have way more power than coaches (even sometimes the front office) by the way they continually disrespected Mike Woodson

c) the Hawks roster as a whole just doesn’t care

d) Mike Bibby died, therefore leaving the young and immature Hawk players without a guiding light.

e) All of the above

I vote e). Nothing short of all of those answers could’ve allowed that series to go to seven games.

(Re-shun)

Speaking of series that won’t go to seven-games, I’m not looking forward to the remainder of the quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup either. Don’t get me wrong, I love playoff hockey. I’m basically Canadian. But, I hate that the Chicago Blackhawks are in the NHL Finals.

My reasoning is two-fold. First and foremost because the Detroit Red Wings and only the Red Wings are allowed to represent the Western Conference. Secondly because the WebMaster and new housemate Jeremy Gehl are Blackhawks fans. The obnoxious yelps for joy watching their team score two goals in 30 seconds. I can’t take it. Not when the Red Wings should be in the Finals.

So yes, the Blackhawks will win. Like the Bucks, Philly is just overmatched. Chicago is too big and too skilled. They even have a better net-minder.

I pick the Flyers to win one game. Blackhawks in five. More importantly, in 2011, the Red Wings and Hockeytown will return to their rightful throne atop the NHL.

I digress.

(Un-shun)

Moving out West, the first round was a little better. Despite being the two-seed, Dallas couldn’t get the monkey off their back, falling to seventh-seeded San Antonio in six. That was entertaining.

Interestingly enough, every other first round Western series ended in six games too – Lakers over a tough Thunder squad, Utah over Denver, and Phoenix bettering the Blazers.

Second round action proved more of the same. Losing teams won a whopping 2 games combined. We knew Atlanta would get swept. The Lakers were too big inside for Utah. Sweep. And Phoenix finally got over their San Antonio hump. Sweep.

So the team that won … you guessed it, the Cleveland Delontes. Look, Boston never should’ve defeated the Cavaliers. This was supposed to be Cleveland’s year. The fans need it. The franchise needs it. The city needs it. The team is finally put together. Lebron has the pieces. They finished with the league’s best record. Have the league’s best player. And somehow, they seem to get along.

It was smooth sailing in the first round. Round two seemed more of the same. Until the former champion Celtics fought back. And Lebron seemingly quit. Come to think of it, the entire Cavs roster quit. But how? Why?

Enter Delonte West.

Notorious for his bipolar personality, being a red-headed African-American is just the beginning of the statistical anomaly that is Delonte West. West was once pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle while carrying a guitar case. An honest mistake. Except for the fact that the guitar case came packed with two handguns and a shotgun. Delonte, why a guitar case? Why TWO handguns? And a shotgun? And if you knew you were packing like that, why speed on your motorcycle Delonte?

Maybe a little unusual. But he’s a professional athlete. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. The Cavaliers gave him a second chance.

And how does Delonte repay the city of Cleveland? By becoming the reason for one of the least inspired playoff losses for a superstar of all time. Delonte (you have to read this link)– you may have single-handedly swayed the course of basketball history. Based solely on your actions, Lebron James may defect from his hometown to a new franchise. The city of Cleveland hates you. What did they do to deserve this?

(Re-shun)

Quick side note – did everyone see the the Kendry Morales freak accident (fast-forward to about a minute in)? What a sad way to go. Early reports suggest he may be done for the year. He’s enjoyed a great two-year stretch and I wish him a healthy recovery. Moments like these make it easy to second-guess traditional celebrations.

(Un-shun)

Ok, we’re going to skip the conference Finals. After the first two games, there was little question we would see a Boston-LA rematch from 2008.

I liked seeing the Suns with Steve Nash and fellow Saginaw native Jason Richardson get to the Western Conference Finals. They were exciting and fun to watch. But Kobe has been unbelievable. Scoring. Sharing. Playing a great floor game (as much as it pains me to say it). The Suns didn’t have an answer for the game’s best closer.

Unfortunately, I’m not much of a Kobe fan. He’s selfish. Overconfident. Even phony at times. But I can’t deny his worth as a basketball player. Him taking over at the end of Game 6 vs the Suns is one of the best offensive displays I’ve witnessed. Fadeaways over two-three defenders. Over and Over. Like stabbing a knife right through my heart.

Even worse, I don’t see the trend changing. The mediocrity of the playoffs so far suggests a mediocre Finals. Even the historic LA-Boston rivalry can’t save the NBA this time.

Like the Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers have looked disinterested at times. Its just Kobe won’t let them lose. Maybe a game, but not a series.

Earlier in the Eastern Conference Finals, I thought the Celtics would be able to match the Lakers. They have size. They have experience. The Celtics roster is solid.

I am even encouraged by the progress of Rondo. I mean, how can I not appreciate a pass-first point guard, on a team with great scorers, who will do anything he can to get the job done? He’s played great. Even legendary. But, with his running mates showing their age late in the series against the Magic, I can’t see the Celts defeating LA in a best of seven.

My prediction – LA in six.  Maybe the Celts can string a few together. Maybe Kevin Garnett’s legs will be rejuvenated. Maybe the Big Three can go for one more ring. I’m hopeful. But not optimistic.

(Shunning resumed)

Not another pig suey

Recent news:

• The Detroit Lions drafted Ndamukong Suh and appear to be on the right track for the first time in years. Yes, I am a Lions fan despite their perennial losing. And yes, I know people in Iowa don’t care about the Lions. But until you get a team of your own, I’m going to act like you do.

• The Detroit Red Wings are approaching a game-seven battle with the Phoenix Coyotes (again, the lack of team for Iowa). The Wings haven’t had their greatest season, limping through countless injuries to barely sneak into the playoffs. Fortunately, I have confidence in this star-studded roster. Lets get to round-two Wingers.

• Oklahoma City won their second-consecutive home game to even the Lakers series at 2-2. I’ve liked this team from the beginning, but really Kobe? Twelve points in a 20-point game 4 loss. Thats very un-Kobe-like.

• The short-handed Utah Jazz have looked far superior to a talented Denver Nuggets team. Even with Kyrylo Fesenko (from Dnipropetrovsk, and no I didn’t spell that wrong) as their starting center. (More on him coming soon)

However, the big news comes straight from Omaha, Nebraska. Longtime coach and MVC godfather Dana Altman is headed to Oregon to become the Ducks’ head basketball coach. This time, it’s for real.

In 2007 we heard a similar story. The classic Pig Suey incident, when Dana left to become Arkansas’s head coach, only to return to Creighton within a day after seeing the state of SEC basketball. Altman sprinted back to Creighton with his tail in between his legs. He vowed to remain at the University for the rest of his career. Fortunately for him, Creighton opened him back with open arms.

Three seasons later, Altman’s streak of 11 straight 20-win seasons was snapped. His BlueJay team looked over-matched, maybe even outcoached for the first time in years. Long gone are the days of Rodney Buford, Ryan Sears, Kyle Korver, and Anthony Tolliver. Instead, players like P’Allen Stinnett dominate the headlines with off-the-court issues. Dana Altman looked at the future of the Creighton program and decided it was time for a change (again).

Ultimately, the Valley has changed. Power has shifted. For almost an entire decade, Creighton and Southern Illinois were top-dogs. Often ranked in the top-25, both teams were perennial post-season contenders. Now, UNI dominates headlines. Illinois State moved from bottom-feeder to contended. And even Drake had one good year (come on, you knew I was throwing that in somewhere).

I can’t blame Altman for leaving. He’s done everything he could for Creighton. Sixteen seasons after arriving in a place without basketball heritage, Altman turned them into a team no one in Division-1 wanted to play. One season under 20-wins and the fans are grumbling. How is that fair?

Look at it this way – as a college coach, you are the focal point of the team. True. Accepted. So you are going to receive a disproportionate amount of credit either way. Ditto. But, fans expect loyalty to the school. They also expect perfection.

When Keno Davis left Drake a few years ago, some fans were upset. How? Would you really turn down someone quadrupling your salary? I wouldn’t say no. Especially if, like Dana’s case, people are always expecting more. He raised the fans level of expectations. One season with less than 20-wins and Creighton fans are grumbling about his ability to coach.

Believe me, I am not blaming the fans. Its just the nature of the business. Fans want their school to win. Coaches need to do whats best for themselves and their families. As much as we like to think college basketball is wholesome, it really is a cut-throat business.

Basically, I’m just trying to say congrats Dana. I wish you the best.

Looking to the future, it will be interesting to see how the BlueJays proceed. Greg McDermott looks to be a perfect fit. After planting the seeds to get UNI to their current level, McDermott’s struggles at Iowa State have been well documented. The Valley and the Big 12 represent different beasts. At Iowa State McDermott has to recruit a different type of player. And these players haven’t exactly fit to his system. Moving from the hot-seat at Iowa State to a storied Valley program in a conference he’s very familiar with seems like a good move. (Oh, and it helps that Creighton can offer more money than Iowa State. Remember, its a business.)

Succeeding in the Valley requires hard-work, tireless recruiting, and having an eye for the diamond in the rough. Coaches have to know how to recruit to this level. MVC teams are too good for average players. But outside of the power-six conference teams, it is extremely difficult to get top-100 caliber athletes. Finding the best of the rest is imperative for Valley success.

To win against the big boys, Valley teams have to play together. And coaches have to find the right mix of players. Kansas is going to be more athletic. But what does UNI do? They stick to their strengths: play great team defense, get Kansas out of their rhythm, and make timing baskets. What they lacked in athleticism, they made up for with size and hustle in the frontcourt, strength and shooting ability in the backcourt. Of course, an Ali Farokhmanesh doesn’t hurt.

It also helps to have mature teams. The last three MVC champs have been junior/senior laden groups. The 2007-2008 Drake Bulldogs had a fifth-year senior, two four-year seniors, and two four-year juniors in their rotation. UNI from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 boasted a similar mix.

As more prime-time players become one-and-dones, the advantage often resides in experience. Valley coaches don’t recruit these players. They can’t. But they have a knack for picking the next best thing. No way Ali Farokhmanesh goes to Kansas or Kentucky. But with the right teammates, in the right system, the kid can shine.

This is what Greg McDermott struggled with at ISU. And this is why Greg McDermott is a great fit for Creighton. The Valley is a special place. But each school needs to have the right kind of coach.

Ultimately Altman leaving will be good for everyone. He needed a change. Creighton needs a change. And McDermott and Iowa State could definitely use a positive way to get out of that situation. This could be a win-win-win for all three programs. Stay posted.

A Look to the West

Western Conference

(1) LA Lakers vs (8) Oklahoma City

Dangit I really like Oklahoma City. The Thunder have a good roster. Their young players play well together and Kevin Durant is awesome. I like what Russell Westbrook brings to the game. Jeff Green, James Harden, and Thabo Sefolosha have proven to be valuable role players capable of stepping up and having big games. This is a good team. It really is.

Too bad they finish fourth in their division. Wait, is it possible to win 50-games and still be fourth in your division. In the West, more specifically the Northwest apparently yes.

The Thunder have a great season and how do they get rewarded? A trip to LA against the city’s good team in the first round. Poor Thunder.

With the third best record in the league, the defending champs enter the playoffs with more question marks than last season. Showing inconsistency at times this year, the Lakers seemed almost indifferent at times. But their roster is too good to be ignored. And despite some struggles, they still are the number one seed in the brutal Western conference.

Did you know Kobe has FOUR championship rings? Kobe Bryant is a masterful playoff artist. And this year, he probably has the best overall team on either side of the bracket. The Lakers are going to be tough to beat in a seven-game series.

Because I like the Thunder so much I’ll give them two games, but LA is too good.

Lakers in 6

(4) Denver vs (5) Utah

What makes the Western conference so difficult is the miniscule separation between playoff teams. The top-seeded Lakers only won seven more games than the eight-seeded Thunder. Denver and Utah? Same record. So your saying advantage Denver because of homecourt advantage? Considering the Nuggets finished tied for the second-best home record in the NBA, I could agree. The Nuggets are just so blasted inconsistent.

Carmelo Anthony is a top-flight NBA player. Though he’s gotten better with his attitude, he still doesn’t bring it every night. JR Smith is an explosive scorer who, when hot can put up 40. Or when not, shoot Denver right out of games. I really like Chauncey Billups, Chris Anderson, and Nene Hilario (I thought he didn’t have a last name, when did that change?). But those three are complementary guys. Maybe they can change the pace of a game, but with the exception of Chaunce, it’s unlikely they’ll alter a series.

Utah, on the other hand, is a great team. Typical of Jerry Sloan coached teams, the Jazz play well together and are getting hot (and healthy) at the right time. Deron Williams is one of the most impressive players in the league. And a revitalized Carlos Boozer has been carrying the scoring and rebounding duties for the club. I love this team’s tenacity and killer instinct, led by Williams. They have role players. They have scorers. They play hard. But will it be enough?

Denver is a tough matchup for any team. Carmelo can hurt you from in or outside. But, defensive stopper Wesley Matthews, CJ Miles, and Andrei Kirilenko theoretically have the size and speed to bother the superstar (especially in combination). Billups often uses his size to overpower opposing pg’s. He can’t do that to Williams. Tough matchup, but the Jazz have the pieces in place.

Tough call, but because of the Kyle Korver alliance (I may or may not be friends with his brother) we’ll go Jazz stealing one in Denver.

Jazz in 7

(3) Phoenix vs (6) Portland

For the first time in years, we’re finally seeing a different Phoenix team. Yes, they still lead the NBA in scoring with 110.2 PPG. Yes Steve Nash is still running the show. But, somehow watching them play is different. They run-and-gun, but are better in the half-court. They even play better defense (yes Amare Stoudemire and Nash and still liabilities, but defense is a team thing).

For the first time in the Nash-era, The Suns’ bench has an identity. Newbie Goran Dragic’s presence allowed Nash to limit his minutes to his lowest as a Sun this season. Three-point specialists Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are among the league-leaders in three-point shooting and give a big spark off the bench. The loss of Robin Lopez hurts interior defense and makes the Suns thin on the inside, but it allows more minutes for Frye. They’ll need big minutes from him against Portland.

The Trail Blazers have completed their transition from the Jail Blazer past. Resident good-guy Brandon Roy is a fan favorite. The face of the franchise is a fantastic player to boot. Too bad a partially-torn miniscus will keep him away from the Suns.

While Marcus Camby has been a big addition, I just don’t see enough on the Blazers’ roster without a healthy Roy. Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge can have big games, but are not marquee players.

Suns in 5

(2) Dallas vs (7) San Antonio

I hate the Western conference. How is a team like San Antonio, a team with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli, a seven-seed? Oh yeah, didn’t they add Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess this offseason too? How is this a seventh-place team?

I forgot. They’re not. Its just the West.

The Mavs exploded after trading for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Finally having a center other than Erick Dampier (second best center in the West – self-described years ago despite Shaq’s insistence he was really Erica Dampier in the WNBA – see trivia), maybe its the Mavs time. Jason Kidd is approaching the end, but is still effective. Butler fits well as a third scoring option, while Shawn Marion provides hustle-plays. This is a balanced team, and if Dirk Nowitzki can stave off the playoff demons they have a shot.

I just can’t ignore the Spurs. They’re top-five are too good. They’ve been good for a decade (This hurts a little. It doesn’t seem like five years ago that the Pistons and Spurs fought for supremacy with physical defensive styles. Now the Pistons have Ben Gordon. Times have changed).

Honestly, I like Dallas’s roster better (other than Dampier). But, Gregg Popovich, Duncan, and the Spurs are playoff masters. This is my big (kinda) upset pick.

Spurs in 6

Das Mailbag

“Hey Adam,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying the experience in Germany. Good luck to you and your teammates in the up coming playoffs.
 My son Nile and I went to one of your father & son camps last summer and had a great time. Nile was able to talk to Leonard Houston before one of the Iowa Energy games while he was w/ that team, and he wondered if you guys had plans for another camp this summer?? We’d love to see you or hear from you if you come back to DSM this summer.
 Best wished,
 Lars & Nile”

Thanks for the comment Lars and Nile! I do remember both of you from our father-son camp. The camp was a lot of fun. Hopefully both of you found a few things to help improve your game. Sadly, being overseas severely increases the difficulty in planning a camp. It would be hard for me to do all the little things necessary to get one set up. Though I do not have one in place for this year, I am hope next year I will get some help and have one. I will be sure to let you two know. Thanks again!

“Nice blog. I will say you’re much better about keeping current on yours than I ever was on mine. It was good to talk to you this morning. I see you online a lot, we should talk more often. As far as the Relays are concerned, you missed one really nice day and one really crappy day, but it was fun. Once again, good luck in your final game and then the postseason. I’ll be watching the NBA playoffs and cheering for my Nugs; if I knew where or how I could watch your games, I would. Greg”

Thanks to Greg, my freshman roommate, for the wall post. And yes, since the Nuggets now have former Detroit Piston Chancey Billups, I am a Nuggets fan. I don’t normally get to watch the games due to the time difference, but occasionally I can catch a quarter or two. I really like the way the Nuggets are playing. You gotta love Bird-man. They play hard, they play together, and they play good defense. They remind me a little bit of the Pistons of old (sniffle, sniffle). At least the Red Wings seems to be holdin’ it down for Detroit Sports. No matter what has happened with the rest of Detroit, Hockeytown always shines.