NBA 2008-2009

[The G Man]

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the coolest coach of all?

[Enforcer]

Wow, Gordon. Somewhere, someone's head is exploding. I don't know whose, or exactly why, but I'm pretty sure about it.

So, the Pistons are a fucking MASH unit right now. The Lakers schooled 'em pretty good at the Palace the other night and the loss of Hamilton, Wallace and Iverson is just too much. I still have no idea what to expect from this team come the playoffs. I still think they're good enough to be a top 3 seed in the East, but if they get swept in the first round that wouldn't surprise me. What a weird season.

[Noj]

^^^
A testament to how good the Pistons have been for a long time, that was the Lakers' first win in Detroit in seven years. Weird game, both teams traded terrible second and third quarters, with the Lakers going to sleep in the 2nd and giving up a 20-nothing run, then the walking wounded Pistons returned the favor in the third.

Lakers had a scare last night against the Nets, with Kobe jamming his ankle and going to the locker room late in the second. Gasol put up 36 to make up for Kobe's 5-19 night and clinch home court in the West.

[Captain Hate]

Stuart Scott is such an idiot; they were just having a discussion of whether LeBron could ever match the Big O and get a triple double for the season and he was incredulous when Jon Barry said no way; that he'd have to up his assist total by an unrealistic amount. Plus that LeBron thinks about winning more than stats; which Oscar did also but the Royals weren't a realistic threat to win it all at that time so he just naturally put more on his own shoulders. Wilbon was kind of on the fence but I think he ultimately realized that one person knew wtf he was talking about and the other was a clueless douche.

[jon abbey]

Hate, Peter Vecsey has been writing in depth about the Cavs for a couple of weeks now, they should all be at nypost.com, at least 5-6 pieces now.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks for the heads up on that; I should just bookmark the Post because Vecsey really does his homework, even more than Terry Pluto. Where else could I find out how Don Nelson has undermined Embrey and Mullin; I'm not even sure that the world's most diehard Warriors fan knows that, or at least admits it in his glass 10% full outlook.

[Enforcer]

After watching some bad officiating in the Red Wings game today, I was pretty upset with the what I saw. It didn't really affect who won the game, though, it was just crappy on both sides.

Then I watched this band of merry buffoons officiate the Spurs-Hornets game, and suddenly what I saw in the hockey game doesn't seem so bad. Brutal calls down the stretch, all against the Spurs. A "foul" on CP3 by Parker that led to 3 FTs; a missed call when Parker drove the other way; a ball knocked out of bounds off a Hornet they called off Duncan (this one was close, but still); and finally, an intentional foul by Parker on Paul in the backcourt they overlooked that led to another foul being called that again resulted in 3 FTs for Paul.

Basically, the outcome of the game was probably decided by the calls. And I was rooting for the Hornets.

What a garage league the NBA is at this point.

[Enforcer]

The best thing that can be said about last night's Pistons-Cavs contest is the Pistons didn't get blown out. Other than that...

Tonight, they lose to N.J. without Sheed, whose tech last night put him over the limit, resulting in a suspension. Funny though, he got his tech in response to a foul called on Prince, not himself.

[jon abbey]

man, Boston steals a double OT game from Charlotte, who were up big at the end of regulation and just couldn't finish it. a Charlotte win would have put real pressure on Chicago and Detroit, who now still have some breathing room for the last two playoff spots.

[Enforcer]

So the day after Allen Iverson says he would rather retire than come off the bench, the Pistons have decided to rest him up for the rest of the season by not playing him. Hehehe.

AI said he'd do whatever the team needs of him. I guess that didn't include not starting.

[walto]

man, Boston steals a double OT game from Charlotte, who were up big at the end of regulation and just couldn't finish it. a Charlotte win would have put real pressure on Chicago and Detroit, who now still have some breathing room for the last two playoff spots.

I watched that game. I would have felt bad for Charlotte, which led with 20 seconds to go in each period, if I didn't hate Larry Brown so much.

[jon abbey]

Detroit up by two games over Charlotte for the right to lose to Cleveland, Detroit/Charlotte play tomorrow.

a Detroit win would essentially clinch it for them, it'd give them a 3 game lead with 5 to play plus the head to head tiebreaker. a Charlotte win would make the home stretch interesting, although Charlotte's schedule is somewhat tougher.

meanwhile, NY is doing a nice job of getting themselves a slightly higher draft pick, hopefully this late season collapse will hurt Lee and Nate's bargaining positions this offseason (they're both restricted free agents).

[jon abbey]

ok, so I get home to find out that someone set a record for most points by a Piston in a quarter, and it's WILL BYNUM with 26 in the 4th! his previous career high for an entire game was 25.

[kp*]

Yesterday the Knicks lost to the Raptors and were eliminated from the playoffs. Today the Knicks beat the Raptors ending Toronto's playoff hopes. That has to the first time in NBA history that in back to back games two teams eliminated each other from the playoff by splitting 1-1. How odd.

[Captain Hate]

So the day after Allen Iverson says he would rather retire than come off the bench, the Pistons have decided to rest him up for the rest of the season by not playing him. Hehehe.

AI said he'd do whatever the team needs of him. I guess that didn't include not starting.

AI showing the same commitment to team goals that has characterized his entire career, which only his blindest shillboys can ignore. The only question now is will any team be stupid enough to offer him a contract next season? Clippers?

[jon abbey]

maybe he and Marbury can do a kind of one on one Globetrotters/Generals tour, since it's not looking like either of them will have anything else to do.

[Enforcer]

ok, so I get home to find out that someone set a record for most points by a Piston in a quarter, and it's WILL BYNUM with 26 in the 4th! his previous career high for an entire game was 25.

Yeah, crazy, eh?! The kid can play. I love the Pistons' bench at this point. If they can stay healthy and show any kind of cohesiveness, they can be an unpleasant first round opponent.

[The G Man]

Manu out for the playoffs. Goodbye Spurs.

[Erik Lund]

Hellloooooooo Rockets!

Yao once again dominates Howard.

[Captain Hate]

Marvin "The Human Eraser" Webster RIP